What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

Added:Article 13 – paragraph 1: 1. In order to provide support to companies or to Member State authorities on how companies should fulfil their due diligence obligations, including in relation to rights and protections enshrined in the Annex, the Commission, in consultation with Member States, the European cross-industry and sectoral social partners and other relevant stakeholders, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Environment Agency, the European Labour Authority, the European External Action Service, the European Innovation Council and the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA), the European Food Safety Authority, and where appropriate the OECD and other international bodies having expertise in due diligence, shall issue clear and easily understandable guidelines, including general and sector- specific guidance, in order to facilitate compliance in a practical manner.

Removed:Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b (new): (b) a consideration of the risks and impacts of climate action for the company, an identification of decarbonisation levers within the company’s business and value chain, and related financial and investment plans;

Added:Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new): 1a. In order to provide support to companies or to Member State authorities on how companies should fulfil their due diligence obligations, the guidelines shall include: / (a) information on the implementation of the human rights and environmental standards applicable to businesses based on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises as clarified in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct as well as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; / (b) lists of risk factors and accompanying guidance, including enterprise-level risk factors, geographic risk factors and sectoral risk factors; / (c) sector specific guidance, in particular for the following sector, in line with current or future OECD guidelines: / (i) the manufacture and the wholesale trade and retail of textiles, wearing apparel, fur, leather and related products (including footwear), / (ii) agriculture, water supply, the management of land and resources, including nature conservation, forestry, fisheries (including aquaculture), the rubber industry, the manufacture of food products, marketing and advertising of food and beverages, and the wholesale trade and retail of agricultural raw materials, live animals, animal products, wood, food, and beverages, and waste management, / (iii) mining and quarrying, the extraction, refining, transport and handling of mineral resources regardless from where they are extracted (including crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, lignite, metal…

Removed:Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c (new): (c) implementing actions to achieve the company’s climate targets, based on current scientific evidence and data covering their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

Added:Article 13 – paragraph 1 b (new): 1b. The guidelines shall be made available no later than ... [1 year before the date of entry into force of obligations for companies under this Directive], in free of charge and easily accessible format, including digital, and in all the official languages of the Union. The Commission shall periodically review the relevance of its guidelines and adapt them, including to new best practices.

Removed:Article 15 – paragraph 2: 2. Member States shall ensure that each company’s plan is evidence-based, regularly updated and is clear, transparent, accurate, comprehensive, comparable and consistent, by following best practices.

Added:Article 13 – paragraph 1 c (new): 1c. Country fact-sheets shall be updated regularly by the Commission and made publicly available in order to provide up-to-date information on the international Conventions and Treaties ratified by each of the Union’s trading partners. The Commission shall collect and publish trade and customs data on origins of raw materials, and intermediate and finished products, and publish information on human rights, environmental and governance potential or actual adverse impacts risks associated with certain countries or regions, sectors and sub-sectors, and products.

Removed:Article 15 – paragraph 3: deleted

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 1: 1. Before the entry into force of this Directive, Member States with the support of the Commission shall develop and implement measures and toolboxes, in order to provide information, advice and support to companies and the partners with whom they have business relationships in their value chains in their efforts to fulfil the obligations resulting from this Directive, and set up and operate individually or jointly dedicated user-friendly websites, platforms or portals. Such information, advice and support shall be practical and tailored to the specific needs of SMEs in particular. Member States shall also ensure that training on how to perform due diligence is made available for companies. In doing so, Member States shall ensure complementarity and coherence with similar measures already in existence, such as information and promotion provided by OECD National Contact Points.

Removed:Moved to Article 26

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new): 1a. The Commission shall establish a dedicated digital portal for companies to access free of charge all templates and information relating to all reporting requirements stemming from this Directive and other Union legislative instruments specific to a particular company based on its size, sector, product and service, risk exposure etc., as well as access to information on funding and tendering opportunities in order to implement, fulfil and profit from their due diligence obligations.

Removed:Article 16 – paragraph 1: 1. Member States shall ensure that each company referred to in Article 2(2) designates a legal or natural person as its authorised representative, established or domiciled in one of the Member States where it operates. The designation shall be valid when confirmed as accepted by the authorised representative. Member States shall regularly publish an up to date list of authorised representatives under their jurisdiction.

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 1 b (new): 1b. Member States shall provide information and support for stakeholders and their representatives to exercise their engagement in due diligence, for their capacity development, and provide them with information and assistance to facilitate their access to justice. This shall include legal counsel and setting up and operating individually or jointly dedicated websites, platforms or portals. Member States may also provide financial support to stakeholders for the purpose of raising their awareness and facilitating access to the rights provided to them by this Directive, as well as support and protection for affected stakeholders in relation to potential or actual adverse impacts related to business operations.

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 2: 2. Without prejudice to applicable State aid rules, Member States shall provide financial and other support to SMEs, where relevant.

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 3: 3. The Commission shall establish advisors for due diligence under the scope of the Enterprise Europe Network and shall, including in view of ensuring consistency, complement Member States’ support measures building on existing Union action to support due diligence in the Union and in third countries and may devise new measures, including facilitation of joint stakeholder initiatives to help companies fulfil their obligations.

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new): 3a. The Commission and Member States shall ensure that the Union’s cooperation and trade instruments support the development of an enabling environment in third countries, as well as developing and strengthening cooperation and partnership mechanisms with third countries, and relying on existing instruments, to address the root causes of adverse impacts on human rights and the environment , and build the capacity of third country economic actors to respect the environment and human rights.

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 4: 4. Without prejudice to Articles 18, 19 and 22, companies may participate in industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives to support the implementation of aspects of their due diligence obligations referred to in Articles 5 to 11 of this Directive to the extent that such initiatives are appropriate to support the fulfilment of the relevant obligations. They may be particularly appropriate to support sector-wide risk identification, providing tools for mitigation of specific risks, coordinating the use of companies’ leverage to enable remediation, and providing access to a grievance mechanism. The Commission, in collaboration with Member States, the OECD, the OHCHR and relevant stakeholders, shall:

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 4 – point a (new): (a) issue guidance and a methodology for assessing the scope, alignment with this Directive, and credibility including with regard to transparency, governance, oversight mechanisms and accountability of participating companies, of individual industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives, building on the OECD’s alignment assessment methodology;

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 4 – point b (new): (b) establish a centralised and public digital platform for companies, governments and other stakeholders to access free of charge independent third-party assessments of the scope, alignment, and credibility of individual industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives using the methodology developed by the Commission under point (a). Independent third-party assessments may be carried out by Member States, the OECD or other independent third party assessors;

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 4 – point c (new): (c) facilitate the dissemination of other relevant information on the scope, alignment and credibility of industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives and their outcomes. Member States shall foster the development of appropriate industry or multi-stakeholder initiatives to support companies in particular sectors or on particular issues that involve severe sustainability risks but lack such initiatives.

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new): 4a. Without prejudice to Articles 18, 19 and 22, companies may use independent third party verification to support the implementation of aspects of their due diligence obligations referred to in Articles 5 to 11 of this Directive to the extent that such verification is appropriate to support the fulfilment of the relevant obligations. The Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 28 to specify the minimum standards, including transparency standards, for the independent third-party verification.

Added:Article 14 – paragraph 4 b (new): 4b. Relevant stakeholders may submit notifications and grievances pursuant to Article 9 through industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives that the company participates in.

Added:Article 14 a (new): Article 14a / Single helpdesk / 1. Each Member State shall designate one or more national helpdesks on corporate sustainability due diligence. Member States may assign this role to an existing authority such as National Contact Points where they exist but shall ensure that the single helpdesks are functionally independent from the tasks and role of the supervisory authorities. / 2. Companies may seek additional guidance and obtain further support and information about how best to fulfil their due diligence obligations through this point of contact, including on the role of collaborative industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives in supporting and assisting companies to meet specific aspects of their due diligence obligations. / 3. The single helpdesks may also liaise with each other to ensure cross-border cooperation, and, where relevant, Member States shall ensure that single helpdesks coordinate with other implementation bodies or other relevant international instruments, such as OECD National Contact Points.

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 1: 1. Member States shall ensure that companies referred to in Article 2 develop and implement a transition plan in line with the reporting requirements in Article 19a of Regulation (EU) 2021/0104 (CSRD), to ensure that the business model and strategy of the company are aligned with the objectives of the transition to a sustainable economy and with the limiting of global warming to 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement and the objective of achieving climate neutrality as established in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 (European Climate Law) as regards its operations in the Union, including its 2050 climate neutrality target and the 2030 climate target. This plan shall include a description of:

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a (new): (a) the resilience of the company’s business model and strategy to risks related to climate matters;

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b (new): (b) the opportunities for the company related to climate matters;

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c (new): (c) where appropriate an identification and explanation of decarbonisation levers within the company’s operations and value chain, including the exposure of the company to coal-, oil- and gas-related activities, as referred to in Articles 19a(2), point (a)(iii), and 29a(2), point (a)(iii), of Directive 2013/34/EU;

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point d (new): (d) how the company’s business model and strategy take account of the interests of the company’s affected stakeholders and of the impacts of the company on climate change;

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point e (new): (e) how the company’s strategy has been implemented and will be implemented with regard to climate matters, including related financial and investment plans;

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point f (new): (f) the time-bound targets related to climate change set by the company for scope 1, 2 and, where relevant, 3 emissions, including where appropriate, absolute emission reduction targets for greenhouse gas for 2030 and in five-year steps up to 2050 based on conclusive scientific evidence, and a description of the progress the company has made towards achieving those targets;

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point g (new): (g) a description of the role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to climate matters.

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 2: deleted

Added:Article 15 – paragraph 3: 3. Member States shall ensure that directors are responsible for overseeing the obligations set out in this Article and that companies with more than 1000 employees on average have a relevant and effective policy in place to ensure that part of any variable remuneration for directors is linked to the company’s transition plan referred to in this Article. Such a policy shall be approved by the Annual General Meeting.

Added:Article 17 – paragraph 1: 1. Each Member State shall designate one or more supervisory authorities to supervise compliance with the obligations laid down in national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive (‘supervisory authority’).

Added:Article 17 – paragraph 6: 6. By the date indicated in Article 30(1), point (a), Member States shall inform the Commission of the names and contact details of the supervisory authorities and, where applicable, the respective competences of those authorities, designated pursuant to this Article, as well as of their respective competence where there are several designated supervisory authorities. They shall inform the Commission of any changes thereto.

Article 17 – paragraph 7: 7. The Commission shall make publicly available, including on its website, a list of the supervisory authorities, and, when a Member State has several supervisory authorities, the respective competences of those authorities. The Commission shall regularly update the list on the basis of the information received from the Member States.

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Changed:Article 17 – paragraph 8: 8. Member States shall ensure that the supervisory authorities have the necessary personal, technical and financial resources, premises, infrastructure, and expertise to carry out their duties effectively, and Member States shall guarantee the independence of the supervisory authorities and ensure that they, and all persons working for or who have worked for them and auditors or expertspersons acting on their behalf, exercise their powers impartially, transparently and with due respect for obligations of professional secrecy. In particular, Member States shall ensure that the authority is legally and functionally independent from the companies falling within the scope of this Directive or other market interests, that its staff and the persons responsible for its management are free of conflicts of interest, subject to confidentiality requirements, and that they refrain from any action incompatible with their duties.

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Removed:Article 18 – paragraph 1: 1. Member States shall ensure that the supervisory authorities have adequate powers and resources to carry out the tasks assigned to them under this Directive, including the power to request and obtain information and carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and interviews of relevant stakeholders, in particular trade unions and workers’ representatives, related to compliance with the obligations set out in this Directive.

Added:Article 17 – paragraph 8 a (new): 8a. Member States shall ensure that supervisory authorities publish and make available on a website an annual report detailing their past activities, future work plan and priorities, and the most serious non-compliance issues.

Removed:Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new): 1a. Without prejudice to their independence, supervisory authorities may also provide assistance to companies seeking to effectively implement their due diligence plans, and issue guidance and information on due diligence best practices.

Added:Article 17 – paragraph 8 b (new): 8b. Member States shall ensure that supervisory authorities recognise the role of implementation bodies of other relevant international instruments, such as OECD National Contact Points. The Commission, in consultation with relevant international bodies, may develop guidelines on the coordination between supervisory authorities and such implementation bodies.

Removed:Article 18 – paragraph 2: 2. A supervisory authority may initiate an investigation on its own motion or as a result of substantiated concerns communicated to it pursuant to Article 19, where it considers that it has information indicating a possible breach by a company of the obligations provided for in the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive.

Added:Article 18 – paragraph 1: 1. Member States shall ensure that the supervisory authorities are independent and impartial and have adequate powers, resources and expertise to carry out the tasks assigned to them under this Directive, including the power to require companies to provide information and carry out investigations, which can include where appropriate on site inspections and the hearing of relevant stakeholders, related to compliance with the obligations set out in this Directive.

Removed:Article 18 – paragraph 3: 3. Inspections shall be conducted in compliance with the national law of the Member State in which the inspection is carried out and without prior warning to the company, except where prior notification is necessary in order to ensure the effectiveness of the inspection. Where, as part of its investigation, a supervisory authority wishes to carry out an inspection on the territory of a Member State other than its own, it shall seek assistance from the supervisory authority in that Member State pursuant to Article 21(2).

Added:Article 18 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2: Taking remedial action does not preclude the imposition of administrative sanctions or the triggering of civil liability in case of damages, including in accordance with Articles 20 and 22, respectively.

Removed:Article 18 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2: Taking remedial action does not preclude the imposition of administrative sanctions or the triggering of civil liability, including in case of damages in accordance with Articles 20 and 22, respectively.

Added:Article 18 – paragraph 5 – point b: (b) to impose sanctions in accordance with Article 20;

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Changed:Article 18 – paragraph 5 – point c: (c) to adopt interim measures to avoid the risk of severe or irreparable harm.harm;

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Removed:Article 18 – paragraph 7 a (new): 7a. Supervisory authorities shall publish and regularly update a list of all companies subject to this Directive.

Added:Article 18 – paragraph 5 – point c a (new): (ca) to assess the validity of prioritisation strategies as foreseen under Article 8b and order a review if the requirements for such strategies have not been met.

Removed:Article 18 – paragraph 7 b (new): 7b. Member States shall ensure that the supervisory authorities keep records of the investigations referred to in paragraph 1, indicating, in particular, their nature and result, as well as records of any notice of remedial action issued under paragraph 5. Competent authorities shall publish an annual activity report with the most serious cases of non-compliance and explaining how they were dealt with, with due regard to commercial confidentiality.

Added:Article 18 – paragraph 7: 7. Member States shall ensure that each natural or legal person has the right to an effective judicial remedy against a legally binding decision by a supervisory authority concerning them, in accordance with national law and without prejudice to Member State rules on companies’ right to court appeal and other relevant safeguards.

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Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 1: 1. Member States shall ensure that natural and legal persons are entitled to easily submit substantiated concerns to any supervisory authority when they have reasons to believe, on the basis of objective circumstances, that a company is failing to comply with the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive (‘substantiated concerns’).

Added:Article 18 – paragraph 7 b (new): 7b. Member States shall ensure that the supervisory authorities keep records of the investigations referred to in paragraph 1, indicating, in particular, their nature and result, as well as records of any notice of remedial action issued under paragraph 5.

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new): 1a. Member States shall ensure that, where persons submitting substantiated concerns so request, the supervisory authority takes the necessary measures for the appropriate protection of the identity of that person and for the appropriate protection of any other information, which, if disclosed, would be harmful to that person.

Added:Article 18 – paragraph 7 c (new): 7c. Decisions of supervisory authorities regarding a company’s compliance with this Directive shall be without prejudice to the company’s civil liability under Article 22. In the context of ongoing civil liability proceedings and upon request of a court, supervisory authorities shall share any information they may have at their disposal about a given company with the court before which the proceedings brought under Article 22 are to be heard.

Added:Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new): 1a. Member States shall ensure that, where persons submitting substantiated concerns so request, the supervisory authority takes the necessary measures for the appropriate protection of the identity of that person and their personal information, which, if disclosed, would be harmful to that person.

Article 19 – paragraph 2: 2. Where the substantiated concern falls under the competence of another supervisory authority, the authority receiving the concern shall transmit it to that authority and inform the person that has submitted a substantiated concern as provided for in paragraph 1.

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Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 4: 4. The supervisory authority shall, as soon as possible and in accordance with the relevant provisions of national law and in compliance with Union law, inform the person referred to in paragraph 1 of the result of the assessment of their substantiated concern and of its decision to accede to or refuse the request for action, and shall provide the reasoning for it.