IFRS Publishes Statement on Its Work During the COVID-19 Crisis
IFRS, in its statement, emphasized that it shares global concerns about the impact of COVID–19 and is supporting its stakeholders by reconsidering timelines of its meetings and publications, providing information on the application of IFRS 9 on financial instruments, and offering calendar updates on ongoing activities. IFRS published a document responding to questions about the application of IFRS 9 during the enhanced economic uncertainty arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The document acknowledges that estimating expected credit losses on financial instruments is challenging in the current circumstances and highlights the importance of companies using all available reasonable and supportable information—historic, current, and forward-looking to the extent possible—when determining whether lifetime losses should be recognized on loans and in measuring expected credit losses. IASB will also postpone to May 2020 the publication of several narrow-scope amendments to IFRS standards originally planned for March and April 2020.
The document regarding application of IFRS 9 is prepared for educational purposes, highlighting requirements within the standard that are relevant for companies considering how the pandemic affects their accounting for expected credit loss. This material is intended to support the consistent and robust application of IFRS 9. The document reinforces that IFRS 9 does not provide bright lines nor a mechanistic approach in accounting for expected credit loss. Accordingly, companies may need to adjust their approaches to forecasting and determining when lifetime losses should be recognized to reflect the current environment. The IFRS Foundation and IASB continue to work in close cooperation with regulators and others regarding the application of IFRS 9 and the document encourages companies to consider guidance provided by prudential and securities regulators.
Furthermore, despite the challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, IASB and its technical staff continue to advance time-sensitive projects, such as the projects on interbank offered rate (IBOR) reform and amendments to IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts, in accordance with the original project plans. Recognizing the importance of giving the stakeholders enough time to respond effectively to its work, the Board will discuss specific measures during its April meeting.
Keywords: International, Banking, Insurance, Securities, IFRS 9, COVID-19, Financial Instruments, Expected Credit Loss, IBOR Reform, IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts, IASB, IFRS
Featured Experts
Masha Muzyka
CECL, IFRS 9, and IFRS 17 expert; credit risk and insurance risk specialist; strategic planning and credit analytics solutions consultant
Metin Epözdemir
Metin Epözdemir helps European and African banks with design and implementation of credit risk, stress testing, capital management, and credit loss accounting solutions.
Dieter Van der Stock
IFRS subject matter expert; LDTI subject matter expert; accounting authority; risk management specialist
Previous Article
IAIS Adjusts Work Program to Address Impact of COVID-19 on InsurersRelated Articles
EBA Publishes Final Regulatory Standards on STS Securitizations
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published the final draft regulatory technical standards specifying and, where relevant, calibrating the minimum performance-related triggers for simple.
ECB Further Reviews Costs and Benefits Associated with IReF
The European Central Bank (ECB) is undertaking the integrated reporting framework (IReF) project to integrate statistical requirements for banks into a standardized reporting framework that would be applicable across the euro area and adopted by authorities in other EU member states.
EBA Publishes Funding Plans Report, Receives EMAS Certification
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been awarded the top European Standard for its environmental performance under the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).
MAS Launches SaaS Solution to Simplify Listed Entity ESG Disclosures
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) set out the Financial Services Industry Transformation Map 2025 and, in collaboration with the SGX Group, launched ESGenome.
BCBS to Finalize Crypto Rules by End-2022; US to Propose Basel 3 Rules
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision met, shortly after a gathering of the Group of Central Bank Governors and Heads of Supervision (GHOS), the oversight body of BCBS.
IOSCO Welcomes Work on Sustainability-Related Corporate Reporting
The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) welcomed the work of the international audit and assurance standard setters—the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)
BoE Allows One-Day Delay in Statistical Data Submissions by Banks
The Bank of England (BoE) published a Statistical Notice (2022/18), which informs that due to the Bank Holiday granted for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral on Monday September 19, 2022.
ACPR Amends Reporting Module Timelines Under EBA Framework 3.2
The French Prudential Control and Resolution Authority (ACPR) announced that the European Banking Authority (EBA) has updated its filing rules and the implementation dates for certain modules of the EBA reporting framework 3.2.
ECB Paper Discusses Disclosure of Climate Risks by Credit Agencies
The European Central Bank (ECB) published a paper that examines how credit rating agencies accepted by the Eurosystem, as part of the Eurosystem Credit Assessment Framework (ECAF)
APRA to Modernize Prudential Architecture, Reduces Liquidity Facility
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) announced reduction in the aggregate Committed Liquidity Facility (CLF) for authorized deposit-taking entities to ~USD 33 billion on September 01, 2022.
