* Sectors: Agricultural Products, Meat, Poultry & Dairy, and Electric Utilities & Power Generators
* ISSB’s consultation material
* ISSB consultation closes 24 July 2026
* Feedback to XRB closes 27 May 2026, send to sustainability@xrb.govt.nz
ISSB Exposure Draft for Agricultural Products, Meat & Dairy, and Electric Utilities & Power Generators SASB Standards
Key details
While SASB Standards are not mandatory under New Zealand climate‑related disclosure standards, they underpin the industry‑based metrics used in IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, and are already applied by some New Zealand entities. For trade‑exposed sectors, these proposals may influence future global sustainability reporting expectations.
The XRB intends to submit to the ISSB and is engaging with government agencies and affected stakeholders to understand New Zealand perspectives. Entities are encouraged to review the Exposure Draft and consider submitting directly. Views for inclusion in the XRB submission should be emailed to sustainability@xrb.govt.nz by 27 May 2026.
The proposed amendments would significantly expand the scope of disclosures in the Meat, Poultry & Dairy SASB Standard, including:
- greater emphasis on livestock‑specific risks (such as animal health and welfare, antibiotic use and nutrient management),
- expanded environmental and social supply chain management metrics, and
- revised or new metrics intended to improve international applicability, including deforestation‑ and conversion‑free production, land use and spatial footprint, water discharges, traceability and due diligence.
There is also an alternative view included in the ISSB’s Basis for Conclusions. One ISSB Board member considers the proposals do not go far enough to address material upstream and indirect risks – including greenhouse gas emissions (notably methane), freshwater use and land use. We think this alternative view is important to consider, as it signals the potential for the scope of metrics in this standard to expand further in the future.
For agricultural products, the scope is expanded to explicitly include direct farming operations, with new disclosure topics on food loss and food waste, land use and ecological impacts, labour conditions, and enhanced environmental and social supply chain management.
The proposed amendments would revise and expand the scope of disclosures in the Electric Utilities & Power Generators standard, including:
- stronger links between climate‑related transition risks and capital strategy, with new metrics on installed and planned generation capacity (including energy storage),
- revised disclosure topics relating to air quality, water management, coal ash management, energy affordability, workforce health and safety, and efficiency and demand, and
- new disclosure topics covering ecological impacts, community relations and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, employee recruitment and retention, and supply chain risk management.
These changes place increased emphasis on the role of electric utilities in the energy transition, alongside land, community and workforce impacts associated with generation, transmission and system transformation.
No. SASB Standards are not mandatory under New Zealand climate standards. This consultation relates to proposed amendments to international standards set by the ISSB. However, SASB Standards are the primary source of industry‑based metrics supporting IFRS S1 and S2, and are already used by some New Zealand entities.
No. This engagement is focused on understanding New Zealand perspectives so they can be reflected in XRB’s submission to the ISSB. Any future decisions about climate-reporting in New Zealand will follow XRB’s usual due process.
XRB expects to make its submission publicly available in line with its usual practice.
Some New Zealand entities already use SASB Standards, and others may face international pressure to do so. These sectors are economically and environmentally significant for New Zealand, so it is important that global standards appropriately reflect New Zealand circumstances.
Views for inclusion in the XRB submission should be emailed to sustainability@xrb.govt.nz by 27 May 2026.