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published 10 Oct 2016 [Answer Published]","attribution":{"prepared_by":"ESMA","published_by":"ESMA","published_in":"ESMA Q&A tool","document_type":"qa_answer","legal_nature":"not_legislation","addressees":"not stated in the document","dates":{"published_on":"2016-10-10","question_submitted_on":"2016-10-10","locators":{"published_on":"ESMA Q&A Excel export ESMA_QA_1760, column 'Esma responses', date line","question_submitted_on":"ESMA Q&A Excel export ESMA_QA_1760, column 'Date of submission'"}},"adoption":null}},"provenance":{"official_url":"https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1760","check":{"result":"matched","checked_at":"2026-10-26","against":"the ESMA publication"},"repo_path":"spaces/mifid-ii/level-3/q-and-a/esma/esma-qa-1760-suitability-and-appropriateness.md","body_sha256":"39cc5004dd31d7de6ef2115cc6b4f65f807de73d686d2f704068ab687415a98d"},"units":[],"markdown":"---\ntitle: \"ESMA Q&A 1760 — Q&A — Suitability and appropriateness [Answer Published]\"\nshortTitle: \"ESMA Q&A 1760 — Q&A — Suitability and appropriateness [Answer Published]\"\nanswer_id: ESMA_QA_1760\ntopic: \"Suitability\"\nstatus: \"Answer Published\"\ntype: qa\ninstrument_type: qa\nauthority: ESMA\nbinding: false\nbinding_character: non_binding\nlegal_status: in_force\nregulation: \"MiFID II\"\nmifid_level3: true\nmica_level2: false\nlegal_basis: \"MiFID II\"\ndate: 10 October 2016\nsource_link: https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1760\nlifecycle: \"Answer Published\"\ntext_version: \"ESMA Q&A register, 10 October 2016\"\nsource_url: \"https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1760\"\ncheck_status: matched\nverified: true\nlast_checked: 2026-10-26\nchecked_against: \"the ESMA publication\"\nsource:\n  prepared_by: \"ESMA\"\n  published_by: \"ESMA\"\n  published_in: \"ESMA Q&A tool\"\n  evidence:\n    prepared_by: \"ESMA Answer\"\n    locator: \"ESMA Q&A entry ESMA_QA_1760: field 'ESMA Answer', no 'Answer provided by' line\"\ndocument_type: \"qa_answer\"\nlegal_nature: \"not_legislation\"\naddressees: \"not stated in the document\"\ndates:\n  published_on: \"2016-10-10\"\n  question_submitted_on: \"2016-10-10\"\n  locators:\n    published_on: \"ESMA Q&A Excel export ESMA_QA_1760, column 'Esma responses', date line\"\n    question_submitted_on: \"ESMA Q&A Excel export ESMA_QA_1760, column 'Date of submission'\"\nlifecycle_label: \"Answer Published\"\n---\n\n**Answer by ESMA, published in its Q&A tool · not legislation · published 10 Oct 2016 [Answer Published]**\n\n*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/1760)*\n\n| | |\n|---|---|\n| **Full title** | ESMA Q&A 1760 — Q&A — Suitability and appropriateness \\[Answer Published\\] |\n| **Prepared by** | ESMA |\n| **Published by** | ESMA, in the ESMA Q&A tool |\n| **Reference** | ESMA_QA_1760 |\n| **Document type** | Q&A |\n| **Legal nature** | Not legislation |\n| **Addressees** | Not stated in the document |\n| **Dates** | Published 10 October 2016; question submitted 10 October 2016 |\n| **Legal basis** | MiFID II |\n| **Related instruments** | None recorded |\n| **Text on this page** | Word for word — the full text of the ESMA publication |\n\n**Suitability and appropriateness**\n\n### Question\n\nShall a suitability report be provided to the client when the advice given is not to buy or sell a financial instrument?\n\n***\n\n### Answer\n\n\\[ESMA35-43-349 MiFIDII Investor protection Q&As Ch2 question 5\\]\n\nYes. Firms providing investment advice are required to always provide the client with a suitability report, irrespective of the specific recommendation given, including the advice not to buy, hold or sell a financial instrument.\n\nIn this regard, Recital 87 of the MiFID II Delegated Regulation specifically clarifies that “investment firms should undertake a suitability assessment not only in relation to \\[when\\] recommendations to buy a financial instrument are made but for all decisions whether to trade including whether or not to buy, hold or sell an investment”.\n\n***\n\n**Source:** [ESMA original document](https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1760)\n"}