EU ESG Ratings Regulation: Delegated Acts Published in Official Journal — Transparency and Conflict-of-Interest Rules Now in Force

CMS Law (July 30) reports that two Commission Delegated Regulations implementing the EU ESG Ratings Regulation were published in the Official Journal on July 29: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/871 (specifying elements of ESG rating products to be disclosed to the public, to users, rated items, and issuers of rated items) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/872 (specifying measures and safeguards for ESG rating providers to separate rating activities from other activities). These delegated acts complete the core implementation architecture of the ESG Ratings Regulation, which was adopted in 2024. For companies that are rated by ESG agencies, and for institutional investors and ESG funds that rely on those ratings: the transparency requirements under 2026/871 mean rated companies will now be able to scrutinise the methodology and data behind their ESG ratings more effectively — and challenge ratings that rely on inaccurate or outdated information. For ESG rating providers: the structural separation requirements under 2026/872 are operational constraints on how advisory, consulting, and rating activities can be structured.