FAR guides limited-assurance review of sustainability reports

FAR has published a September 2026 guide to översiktlig granskning — limited-assurance review — of the statutory sustainability reportFAR, aimed at companies subject to the legal requirement to prepare one. The guide walks through who must report, who is responsible, which standards apply to preparation and to review, what assurance means, and how companies should prepare for the review.

On scope, the guide notes the thresholds in ÅRL 6 kap. 10 § and 7 kap. 31 a §FAR and the 2026 adjustment through the EU omnibus simplification directiveFAR, which member states must transpose by 19 March 2027FAR. A Swedish inquiry (SOU 2026:27) proposes that a statutory sustainability report be prepared by companies — and parent companies in groups — that in each of the last two financial years averaged more than 1,000 employees and had net turnover above SEK 4.9 billionFAR, with application possible from 1 January 2027 for financial year 2026FAR. Until the amendments enter into force, the current test applies: more than one of more than 250 employees on average, a balance-sheet total above SEK 280 million, and net turnover above SEK 550 million, in each of the last two yearsFAR. The inquiry's approach would cut the covered population to roughly 150–200 Swedish companies and remove the balance-sheet leg of the testFAR.

Responsibility sits with the board, which must ensure the report is prepared and published under årsredovisningslagenFAR; CSRD has also extended the audit committee's tasks to sustainability reporting and its reviewFAR. After each financial year the auditor delivers a granskningsberättelse on the sustainability report to the board no later than three weeks before the annual meetingFARFAR. The review covers compliance with årsredovisningslagen and ESRSFAR, the company's double-materiality processFAR, Esef taggingFAR, and article 8 taxonomy-reporting dutiesFAR.

Only an authorised auditor with special eligibility (särskild behörighet) may review the statutory reportFAR; the company may appoint the same authorised auditor who audits the financial statements or a different one as sustainability auditorFAR. The review is a bestyrkande with limited assuranceFAR: the auditor gathers sufficient appropriate evidence to conclude, in negative form, whether anything has come to light suggesting the report is not prepared in all material respects under årsredovisningslagen — a weaker statement than the positive-form opinion with reasonable assurance given on financial statementsFAR. Work is typically enquiry and analytical review, with smaller samples; first-year reviews or reviews without prior-year experience may need deeper analysis.

On standards, the Commission is to adopt limited-assurance standards by 1 July 2027FAR; meanwhile Sweden applies RevR 19 Revisorns översiktliga granskning av den lagstadgade hållbarhetsrapportenFAR. Globally IAASB has issued ISSA 5000FAR, which the Commission standard may build on with European adaptations. Voluntary reporting is reviewed under RevR 6 based on ISAE 3000, replaced by ISSA 5000 for periods from 2027. A voluntary EU standard adopted 3 July 2026FAR caps what protected companies (averaging at most 1,000 employees) can be asked for in the value chainFAR.

The guide also explains modified conclusions — reservation, adverse opinion, or no conclusion — plus emphasis-of-matter paragraphs, and gives preparation advice: fit-for-purpose organisation and IT for data collection, internal controls over data quality and traceability, use of ESRS phase-in relief, and early auditor dialogue including the finance function.

Legal basis: CSRD assurance duties as described in FAR's September 2026 guide, ÅRL 6 kap. 10 § and 7 kap. 31 a §, ESRS, and RevR 19 pending Commission standards by 1 July 2027.