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---
title: "ESMA Q&A 1760 — Q&A — Suitability and appropriateness [Answer Published]"
shortTitle: "ESMA Q&A 1760 — Q&A — Suitability and appropriateness [Answer Published]"
answer_id: ESMA_QA_1760
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/1760
lifecycle: "Answer Published"
text_version: "ESMA Q&A register, 10 October 2016"
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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/1760)*

| | |
|---|---|
| **Full title** | ESMA Q&A 1760 — Q&A — Suitability and appropriateness \[Answer Published\] |
| **Prepared by** | ESMA |
| **Published by** | ESMA, in the ESMA Q&A tool |
| **Reference** | ESMA_QA_1760 |
| **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 a suitability report be provided to the client when the advice given is not to buy or sell a financial instrument?

***

### Answer

\[ESMA35-43-349 MiFIDII Investor protection Q&As Ch2 question 5\]

Yes. 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.

In 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”.

***

**Source:** [ESMA original document](https://www.esma.europa.eu/publications-data/questions-answers/1760)