Due Process Handbook for the IASB BV2009.doc

此文档收集于网络，如有侵权，请联系网站删除International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation Due Process Handbook for the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)Approved by the Trustees March 2006ContentsparagraphsHANDBOOK OF CONSULTATIVE ARRANGEMENTS INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARDI INTRODUCTION13II SUMMARY417Transparency and accessibility1011Extensive consultation and responsiveness1215Accountability1617III THE SIX STAGES OF STANDARD-SETTING1851Stage 1: Setting the agenda1926Stage 2: Project planning2729Stage 3: Development and publication of a discussion paper3037Stage 4: Development and publication of an exposure draft3844Stage 5: Development and publication of an IFRS4549Stage 6: Procedures after an IFRS is issued5051IV HOW THE DUE PROCESS IS APPLIED5266Setting the agenda5261Project planning6266IASB meetings6773Balloting and drafting7481Liaison activities8285Consultation with the SAC8689Working groups9093Comment letters9496Comment period9798Field visits and field tests99102Public hearings (including round-tables)103106Cost/benefit analysis107108Information on the organisations Website109Comply or explain approach110112Trustees oversight role113115APPENDIX IThe IASBs due process: extracts from the Constitution not reproduced hereAPPENDIX IIDue process: extract from the Preface to International Financial Reporting Standards not reproduced hereAPPENDIX IIIStandards Advisory Council: Terms of reference and operating proceduresI Objectives and scope of activitiesII Composition and membershipIII ChairmanIV Operating proceduresV Travel and accommodation costsVI Approval and changesAPPENDIX IVThe Trustees oversight roleextract from the Constitution not reproduced here精品文档HANDBOOK OF CONSULTATIVE ARRANGEMENTS International Accounting Standards BoardIIntroduction1This Handbook describes the consultative arrangements of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). It is based on the existing framework of the due process laid out in the Constitution of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) Foundation and the Preface to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) issued by the IASB. It reflects the public consultation conducted by the IASB in 2004 and 2005. 2The Trustees of the IASC Foundation have set up a committeethe Trustees Procedures Committeewith the task of regularly reviewing and, if necessary, amending the procedures of due process in the light of experience and comments from the IASB and constituents. The Committee reviews proposed procedures for the IASBs due process on new projects and the composition of working groups and ensures that their membership reflects a diversity of views and expertise.3The Trustees approved this Handbook on 23 March 2006, following two rounds of public consultations, review by the Standards Advisory Council, and public debate by the Trustees.IISummary4The IASB is the standard-setting body of the IASC Foundation. The foremost objective of the organisation is to develop, in the public interest, a single set of high quality, understandable and enforceable global accounting standards.5The IASB is an independent group of experts with an appropriate mix of recent practical experience of standard-setting, or of the user, accounting, academic or preparer communities. Members of the IASB are selected and considered for reappointment through an open and rigorous process, which includes advertising vacancies and consulting relevant organisations. The Trustees Nominating Committee makes recommendations to the full Trustees on candidates to serve on the IASB, and reviews annually the performance of IASB members. 6In accordance with the IASC Foundations Constitution, the IASB has full discretion in developing and pursuing its technical agenda and in organising the conduct of its work. In order to gain a wide range of views from interested parties throughout all stages of a projects development, the Trustees and the IASB have established consultative procedures to govern the standard-setting process. The framework for, and the minimum requirements of, the IASBs due process are set out in the Constitution (see Appendix I) and the IASBs Preface to IFRSs (see Appendix II).7The IASB uses many steps in its consultation process to gain a better understanding of different accounting alternatives and the potential impact of proposals on affected parties. In the light of its consultation, the IASB considers its position, and decides whether to modify its approach to standard-setting issues.8In establishing its consultative arrangements, the IASB originally drew upon and expanded the practices of national standard-setters and other regulatory bodies. The IASB sought to enhance its procedures in 2004 and proposed a series of steps to improve transparency. These steps, after public consultation, have been incorporated into practice. This Handbook describes the procedures that have been established.9The procedures described in this Handbook address the following requirements:transparency and accessibilityextensive consultation and responsivenessaccountability.Transparency and accessibility10The IASB considers adding topics to its agenda after consultations with constituents and on the basis of research conducted by or in conjunction with IASB staff. Potential agenda items are discussed in IASB meetings. Those meetings, as well as meetings of the Standards Advisory Council (the SAC), the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (the IFRIC) and the IASBs working groups, are open to the public for observation. IASB meetings are also broadcast and archived on the IASBs Website.11Comment letters from interested organisations, IASB meeting observer notes and IASB decisions are posted on the IASBs Website. Discussion papers and exposure drafts are also posted on the Website and published for public comment (see paragraph 109).Extensive consultation and responsiveness12The IASB solicits views and suggestions through its consultations with a wide range of interested parties and a formal process of inviting public comment on discussion papers and exposure drafts. Organisations that the IASB consults include, among others, the SAC, standard-setting organisations and various regulatory bodies. The IASB may also arrange public hearings and field visits and set up working groups to promote discussions.13IASB members hold a large number of meetings with preparer, user, academic and other groups to test proposals and to understand concerns raised by affected parties. Additionally, IASB members and senior staff appear at many public events to exchange views with constituents. 14The IASB listens to, evaluates and, where the IASB considers it to be appropriate, adopts suggestions received during the consultations. It also debates different views on technical matters in public IASB meetings, conferences and seminars. In response to public comments, the IASB considers alternatives to its proposals.15Comments received from interested parties as part of the consultation process are summarised, analysed and considered by the staff, who make recommendations for the IASB to consider in its public meetings. Using its Website, the IASB informs the public of its position on major points raised in the comment letters received. Accountability16Adopting the comply or explain approach that is used by various regulatory bodies, the IASB explains its reasons if it decides to omit any non-mandatory step of its consultative process as described in the Constitution (see paragraphs 110112 below).17In addition, the Trustees review and ensure compliance with the IASBs procedures and mandate, consider the IASBs agenda, and conduct annual reviews of the IASBs performance (see paragraphs 113 and 114).IIIThe six stages of standard-setting 18The IASBs standard-setting process comprises six stages, with the Trustees having the opportunity to ensure compliance at various points throughout the process.Stage 1: Setting the agenda19The IASB, by developing high quality accounting standards, seeks to address a demand for better quality information that is of value to all users of financial statements. Users include present and potential investors, employees, lenders, suppliers and other trade creditors, customers, governments and their agencies and the public. Better quality information will also be of value to preparers of financial statements. 20Although not all of the information needs of these users can be met by financial statements, there are common needs for all users. As investors are providers of risk capital to the entity, the provision of financial statements that meet their needs will also meet most of the needs of other users. The IASB therefore evaluates the merits of adding a potential item to its agenda mainly by reference to the needs of investors.21When deciding whether a proposed agenda item will address users needs the IASB considers: (a)the relevance to users of the information and the reliability of information that could be provided (b)existing guidance available (c)the possibility of increasing convergence (d)the quality of the standard to be developed (e)resource constraints.For further discussion see paragraphs 5258. 22To help the IASB in considering its future agenda, its staff are asked to identify, review and raise issues that might warrant the IASBs attention. New issues may also arise from a change in the IASBs conceptual framework. In addition, the IASB raises and discusses potential agenda items in the light of comments from other standard-setters and other interested parties, the SAC and the IFRIC, and staff research and other recommendations.23The IASB receives requests from constituents to interpret, review or amend existing publications. The staff consider all such requests, summarise major or common issues raised, and present them to the IASB from time to time as candidates for when the IASB is next considering its agenda (see paragraphs 60 and 61).24The IASBs discussion of potential projects and its decisions to adopt new projects take place in public IASB meetings. Before reaching such decisions the IASB consults the SAC and accounting standard-setting bodies on proposed agenda items and setting priorities. In making decisions regarding its agenda priorities, the IASB also considers factors related to its convergence initiatives with accounting standard-setters. The IASBs approval to add agenda items, as well as its decisions on their priority, is by a simple majority vote at an IASB meeting.25When the IASB considers potential agenda items, it may decide that some issues require additional research before it can take a decision on whether to add the item to its active agenda. Such issues may be addressed as research projects on the IASBs research agenda. A research project normally requires extensive background information that other standard-setters or similar organisations with sufficient expertise, time and staff resources could provide.26Research projects are normally carried out by other standard-setters under the supervision of, and in collaboration with, the IASB. In the light of the result of the research project (normally a discussion paper, see paragraph 32), the IASB may decide, in its public meetings, to move an issue from the research project to its active agenda.Stage 2: Project planning27When adding an item to its active agenda, the IASB also decides whether to conduct the project alone, or jointly with another standard-setter. Similar due process is followed under both approaches.28After considering the nature of the issues and the level of interest among constituents, the IASB may establish a working group (see paragraphs 9093) at this stage. 29The Director of Technical Activities and the Director of Research, the two most senior members of the technical staff, select a project team for the project, and the project manager draws up a project plan under the supervision of those Directors (see paragraphs 6266). The project team may also include members of staff from other accounting standard-setters, as deemed appropriate by the IASB.Stage 3: Development and publication of a discussion paper 30Although a discussion paper is not a mandatory step in its due process, the IASB normally publishes a discussion paper as its first publication on any major new topic as a vehicle to explain the issue and solicit early comment from constituents. If the IASB decides to omit this step, it will state its reasons.31Typically, a discussion paper includes a comprehensive overview of the issue, possible approaches in addressing the issue, the preliminary views of its authors or the IASB, and an invitation to comment. This approach may differ if another accounting standard-setter develops the research paper.32Discussion papers may result either from a research project being conducted by another accounting standard-setter or as the first stage of an active agenda project carried out by the IASB. In the first case, the discussion paper is drafted by another accounting standard-setter and published by the IASB. Issues related to the discussion paper are discussed in IASB meetings, and publication of such a paper requires a simple majority vote by the IASB. If the discussion paper includes the preliminary views of other authors, the IASB reviews the draft discussion paper to ensure that its analysis is an appropriate basis on which to invite public comments. 33For discussion papers on agenda items that are under the IASBs direction, or include the IASBs preliminary views, the IASB develops the paper or its views on the basis of analysis drawn from staff research and recommendations, as well as suggestions made by the SAC (see paragraphs 8689), working groups and accounting standard-setters and presentations from invited parties. All discussions of technical issues related to the draft paper take place in public sessions according to the procedures described in paragraphs 6773.34When the draft is completed and the IASB has approved it for publication (see paragraphs 7481), the discussion paper is published to invite public comment. 35The IASB normally allows a period of 120 days for comment on a discussion paper, but may allow a longer period on major projects (which are those projects involving pervasive or difficult conceptual or practical issues).36After the comment period has ended the project team analyses and summarises the comment letters for the IASBs consideration. Comment letters are posted on the Website. In addition, a summary of the comments is posted on the Website as a part of IASB meeting observer notes.37If the IASB decides to explore the issues further, it may seek additional comment and suggestions by conducting field visits, or by arranging public hearings and round-table meetings (see paragraphs 94106). Stage 4: Development and publication of an exposure draft 38Publication of an exposure draft is a mandatory step in due process. Irrespective of whether the IASB has published a discussion paper, an exposure draft is the IASBs main vehicle for consulting the public. Unlike a discussion paper, an exposure draft sets out a specific proposal in the form of a proposed standard (or amendment to an existing standard).39The development of an exposure draft begins with the IASB considering issues on the basis of staff research and recommendations, as well as comments received on any discussion paper, and suggestions made by the SAC, working groups and accounting standard-setters and arising from public education sessions. 40After resolving issues at its meetings, the IASB instructs the staff to draft the exposure draft. When the draft has been completed, and the IASB has balloted on it (see paragraphs 7481), the IASB publishes it for public comment. 41An exposure draft contains an invitation to comment on a draft standard, or amendment to a standard, that proposes requirements on recognition, measurement and disclosures. The draft may also include mandatory application guidance and implementation guidance, and will be accompanied by a basis for conclusions on the proposals and the alternative views of dissenting IASB members (if any).42The IASB normally allows a period of 120 days for comment on an exposure draft. If the matter is exceptionally urgent, the document is short, and the IASB believes that there is likely to be a broad consensus on the topic, the IASB may consider a comment period of no less than 30 days. For major projects, the IASB will normally allow a period of more than 120 days for comments.43The project team collects, summarises and analyses the comments received for the IASBs deliberation. A summary of the comments is posted on the Website as a part of IASB meeting observer notes.44After the comment period ends, the IASB reviews the comment letters received and the results of other consultations. As a means of exploring the issues further, and soliciting further comments and suggestions, the IASB may conduct field visits, or arrange public hearings and round-table meetings. The IASB is required to consult the SAC and maintains contact with various groups of constituents.Stage 5: Development and publication of an IFRS45The development of an IFRS is carried out during IASB meetings, when the IASB considers the comments received on the exposure draft. Changes from the exposure draft are posted on the Website.46After resolving issues arising from the exposure draft, the IASB considers whether it should expose its revised propos