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---
title: "ESMA Q&A 1757 — Q&A — Suitability and appropriateness [Answer Published]"
shortTitle: "ESMA Q&A 1757 — Q&A — Suitability and appropriateness [Answer Published]"
answer_id: ESMA_QA_1757
topic: "Suitability"
status: "Answer Published"
type: qa
instrument_type: qa
authority: ESMA
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binding_character: non_binding
legal_status: in_force
regulation: "MiFID II"
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date: 10 October 2016
source_link: https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1757
lifecycle: "Answer Published"
text_version: "ESMA Q&A register, 10 October 2016"
source_url: "https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1757"
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---

**Answer by ESMA, published in its Q&A tool · not legislation · published 10 Oct 2016 [Answer Published]**

*Answer Published · ESMA Q&A register, 10 October 2016 · Checked against the ESMA publication on 26 Oct 2026 · [Official source](https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1757)*

| | |
|---|---|
| **Full title** | ESMA Q&A 1757 — Q&A — Suitability and appropriateness \[Answer Published\] |
| **Prepared by** | ESMA |
| **Published by** | ESMA, in the ESMA Q&A tool |
| **Reference** | ESMA_QA_1757 |
| **Document type** | Q&A |
| **Legal nature** | Not legislation |
| **Addressees** | Not stated in the document |
| **Dates** | Published 10 October 2016; question submitted 10 October 2016 |
| **Legal basis** | MiFID II |
| **Related instruments** | None recorded |
| **Text on this page** | Word for word — the full text of the ESMA publication |

**Suitability and appropriateness**

### Question

Shall the suitability report contain the record of when the investment advice is given to the client?

***

### Answer

\[ESMA35-43-349 MiFID II Q&A Ch 2 Q&A nr. 2\]

Yes. The suitability report should contain the date and time of the day when the advice was given to the client. Firms should also keep a record of the date and time when the suitability report was provided to the client (if these dates differ, as may be the case when the interaction with the client occurs through a means of distance communication).

Finally, firms must keep the respective suitability report according to MiFID II record keeping requirements.

To fulfil these reporting and documentation requirements, it may be useful to timestamp the suitability reports. However, if firms comply with the above in any other way, a timestamp may not be necessary.

***

**Source:** [ESMA original document](https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1757)