As transparency and sustainability become crucial in today's business landscape, the Norwegian Transparency Act emerges as a critical piece of this global trend.
This page provides a detailed look at the essential aspects of the legislation and how Factlines can help your business comply with the Act.
The Norwegian Transparency Act, effective as of July 1 2022, represents a significant step towards promoting ethical practices and corporate accountability in Norway. The Act aims to ensure that companies act responsibly, thereby empowering consumers, investors, and society. By providing access to crucial information about companies' impacts on their supply chains and the global community, the Act seeks to foster transparency and enable informed decision-making.
Similar laws in Europe:
• UK Modern Slavery Act • French Duty of Diligence Law (devoir de vigilance) • German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettengesetz) • EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive • Dutch Child Labor Due Diligence Law • Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
Companies meeting at least two of the following criteria are subject to the act:
• Annual turnover surpassing 70 million NOK • Balance exceeding NOK 35 million • Average of 50 full-time employees or equivalent annual man-hours
Companies affected by the Act
The Act's reach extends to all companies operating in Norway that meet specific financial thresholds, including sales revenue, balance sheet total, and employee count. It also applies to domestic or international companies that offer goods or services within Norway's borders. Understanding the Act's broad applicability is crucial for businesses seeking to maintain compliance and navigate the evolving regulatory landscape effectively.
Approximately 9,000 companies will be directly affected by the legislation. However, smaller businesses could also be affected if larger ones enforce additional requirements to comply with the law.
Requirements of the Norwegian Transparency Act
Conduct due diligence assessments
In accordance with the OECD Guidelines, companies are required to undertake thorough due diligence assessments, both internally and throughout their supply chains. This process involves identifying and addressing actual and potential human rights risks.
Publish annual reports on due diligence
By June 30th of each year, businesses must publish a report on their work in their due diligence assessments. This report must be written in Norwegian, approved by the board and signed. It must be made publicly available in a visible place under the heading "Redegjørelse Åpenhetsloven", for example, on the company's website, and include essential details such as organisational structure, scope, guidelines for handling social rights and human rights issues, as well as information on identified negative impacts and measures that have been initiated to deal with them.
Provide transparent information
Transparency is essential. Any individual may request information from a company regarding its approach to addressing actual and potential adverse impacts. Upon receiving a written request, companies must promptly provide the requested information within three weeks. This includes general information and specifics related to particular products or services offered by the company.
The OECD framework drives Factlines' methodology
Download a free template for due diligence reporting
Easily document your organisation's findings and measures under the Norwegian Transparency Act. Fill out the form to download our free template.
Sustainability in the beverage industry supply chain
Check the Hansa Borg & Solera case and how Factlines is helping them to comply with the Norwegian Transparency Act and promote positive impact in the beverages supply chain.
The consequences of non-compliance with the Norwegian Transparency Act
Non-compliance with the Norwegian Transparency Act carries severe consequences beyond legal penalties. Companies may incur fines of up to 4 per cent of their annual turnover or NOK 25 million, whichever amount is higher.
Moreover, failure to publish compliance reports can lead to irreparable damage to a company's brand and market trust, potentially necessitating increased resource use on external consultants and legal assistance. Maintaining effective compliance routines is essential to mitigate risks and maintain stakeholder confidence.
Neglecting to address human and social rights violations in the supply chain can have significant repercussions. Apart from the violation itself, such fines could impact financial outcomes, trigger negative media attention, and even prompt customer disengagement.
Iris Frøybu Senior Advisor at Factlines
How Factlines supports compliance with the Sustainable Supplier Network
Save up to 95% of the time spent on due diligence assessments
Suppliers are automatically divided into risk groups
Based on queries in line with: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nation Global Compact (UNGC), and The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index. This allows companies to prioritise their efforts and focus on high-risk suppliers.
Automatically generated follow-ups
Companies must report on measures taken to document that they are moving towards better sustainability performance. When your suppliers have submitted responses to your request, the system will propose follow-up activities to close gaps or get better documentation.
Share information with over 16.000 companies
Everyone can quickly and easily share information in the network with over 16,000 suppliers and companies. The information is only shared if you give explicit access. If the suppliers create a profile, they only need to fill in the questionnaire according to the due diligence assessment once. Then it can be shared on request. This increases the quality of the answer and saves a lot of time!
Free access for suppliers
Suppliers can answer due diligence assessments to at no cost and can seamlessly share the results with customers. No hidden costs.
Guidelines and step-by-step support
Factlines provides comprehensive guidelines within the platform, guiding users step by step through the compliance process.
Factlines badge for the Norwegian Transparency Act
Complete the Norwegian Transparency Act guide and earn our badge, showcasing your company's dedication to ethical standards.