Background & Purpose

The EU has introduced new rules to ensure that sustainability ratings are reliable and transparent. Sweden is now updating its national laws to match these requirements.

Proposals & Debate

The government proposed that the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority should supervise companies that issue ratings on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. The proposal ensures that these rating agencies follow common EU standards to prevent misleading information.

The Decision

The parliament approved the new rules, which means that any company issuing professional sustainability ratings must now obtain a permit to operate.

Does this affect you?

  • Sustainability rating agencies: These companies must now apply for an official permit to continue issuing ratings on environmental and social performance.
  • Investors: They will benefit from more reliable and regulated sustainability data when making investment decisions.

In Practice

  • Companies that rate how sustainable a business is must apply for a permit.
  • The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority will monitor these rating companies.
  • The new rules will help investors trust the sustainability information they receive.
  • The changes will be fully active starting in April 2026.