Input on the voluntary sustainability reporting standard

Eurochambres welcomes the Commission’s efforts to limit the trickle-down effect caused by excessive information requests from large companies subject to CSRD requirements. Establishing the voluntary standard, based on the VSME, as the reference level for the value chain cap is therefore a positive step to better shield smaller businesses from disproportionate data requests. At the same time, important questions remain regarding the practical functioning and enforceability of the cap, including requests beyond its scope, contractual pressure on smaller suppliers, legal certainty for reporting undertakings where data cannot be obtained, and data requests outside CSRD value-chain reporting. Eurochambres therefore urges the Commission to closely monitor and support the use of the voluntary standard and the effectiveness of the value chain cap in practice. Clear, legally certain and workable conditions for information requests must be ensured for both reporting undertakings and protected undertakings.