Is my company covered by åpenhetsloven?

The act covers primarily larger Norwegian enterprises, qualified by size (revenue, balance-sheet total, headcount), and foreign companies operating in Norway and taxed there. An ordinary foreign supplier without operations in Norway is usually not covered directly, though its effects may reach them through a counterparty's requirements. Confirm the specific qualification with an adviser.

As a supplier, do I have to answer åpenhetsloven questions?

The duty to answer public information requests rests on the company covered by the act, not on its supplier. In practice, however, a covered counterparty conducting its own supply-chain assessment may ask you for information or contract terms. The extent to which you should and must provide them depends on the contract and your situation — confirm it with an adviser.

How does åpenhetsloven relate to European Union rules?

Åpenhetsloven is Norwegian law, but it fits into a broader trend of regulation on companies' responsibility for the supply chain, present in the European Union too. Companies operating in several markets may therefore be subject to several similar but separate regimes. How exactly they overlap in your situation should be confirmed with an adviser — this is an area that is still developing.

Åpenhetsloven — Norway's Transparency Act and what it means for a partner

Published: 2026-07-24

Åpenhetsloven is Norway's Transparency Act, which places on larger Norwegian enterprises obligations related to respecting fundamental human rights and decent working conditions in their operations and supply chains. For you — as a foreign supplier or partner of a Norwegian company — the key point is that covered companies assess their supply chains and may put questions to partners about their operations. This guide explains what åpenhetsloven is, whom it covers, what obligations it imposes and what follows for you, and finally — how to check whether your Norwegian counterparty is covered by it. We write generally and from a partner's perspective; this is not legal advice. Confirm the scope of your own obligations with an adviser.

What is åpenhetsloven?

Åpenhetsloven is a Norwegian act whose purpose is greater transparency in respecting fundamental human rights and decent working conditions in companies' operations and supply chains. In practice it comes down to three main obligations for the enterprises it covers. First, they carry out due diligence — assessing the risk of violations in their own operations and among suppliers and taking action to reduce it. Second, they publish a publicly available account of that assessment. Third, they must respond to information requests that anyone can make — including a consumer or an organisation.

The act fits into a broader trend of regulation on companies' responsibility for the supply chain, present in the European Union too. A Norwegian supervisory body (Forbrukertilsynet) oversees compliance, issuing guidance and able to act on breaches — one reason covered companies take these duties seriously. Detailed definitions and requirements come from its text and guidance — here we describe them generally.

Whom does it cover and what obligations does it impose?

The act covers larger Norwegian enterprises — qualification is based on the company's size (including revenue, balance-sheet total and number of employees), as well as foreign companies operating in Norway and taxed there. Smaller companies are usually not covered directly, but may feel its effects as suppliers to larger entities. Specific thresholds come from the rules and can change, so a given company's status is worth confirming at the time.

Covered companies have three basic obligations, set out in the table below: conducting due diligence, publishing an account, and responding to information requests. For a partner, the key point is that the due diligence covers the supply chain — and therefore them too.

Åpenhetsloven: the company's obligation and what it means for a partner
Company's obligation	What it means for a partner
Due diligence	assesses risk at suppliers too — you may be asked for information
Publishing an account	a public document — you can check the partner's approach in it
Responding to information requests	anyone can ask the company — including about its supply chain

What does åpenhetsloven mean for you as a partner?

Even if your company is not directly covered by the act, you may feel its effects when you sell to or work with a covered Norwegian enterprise. Such a counterparty assesses its supply chain, so it may ask you for information about your operations, working conditions or further sub-suppliers. Sometimes these expectations end up in contracts as clauses on respecting human rights and labour standards.

In practice it is worth being prepared: having basic company information organised and being able to confirm your credibility. On the other hand, you can also use this transparency yourself — a covered company's public account and the ability to make an information request are tools with which you can assess a serious partner. How exactly to respond to specific requests and what contract terms to accept should be confirmed with an adviser.

How to check whether a Norwegian partner is covered?

The starting point is the company's size, because that determines whether the act covers it. Data on a Norwegian company — its legal form, status and size visible in the accounts (årsregnskap) — is in the BRREG register. Comparing revenue, balance-sheet total and headcount with the act's thresholds lets you assess whether a counterparty is likely covered. Many covered companies also publish a due-diligence account, often available on their websites.

In practice it is convenient to gather registry and financial data in one place rather than assembling it from Norwegian sources. A NordScan report organises a Norwegian company's legal form, status and finances in your language, in a single PDF — which eases an initial assessment. Confirm the final legal qualification and the scope of your obligations with an adviser; this guide does not replace such analysis.

Frequently asked questions

What does åpenhetsloven regulate?: It is Norway's Transparency Act, which requires larger companies to conduct due diligence on fundamental human rights and decent working conditions in their operations and supply chains, to publish an account of that assessment, and to respond to information requests that anyone can make.
Is my company covered by åpenhetsloven?: The act covers primarily larger Norwegian enterprises, qualified by size (revenue, balance-sheet total, headcount), and foreign companies operating in Norway and taxed there. An ordinary foreign supplier without operations in Norway is usually not covered directly, though its effects may reach them through a counterparty's requirements. Confirm the specific qualification with an adviser.
As a supplier, do I have to answer åpenhetsloven questions?: The duty to answer public information requests rests on the company covered by the act, not on its supplier. In practice, however, a covered counterparty conducting its own supply-chain assessment may ask you for information or contract terms. The extent to which you should and must provide them depends on the contract and your situation — confirm it with an adviser.
How does åpenhetsloven relate to European Union rules?: Åpenhetsloven is Norwegian law, but it fits into a broader trend of regulation on companies' responsibility for the supply chain, present in the European Union too. Companies operating in several markets may therefore be subject to several similar but separate regimes. How exactly they overlap in your situation should be confirmed with an adviser — this is an area that is still developing.
How do I check a Norwegian partner with åpenhetsloven in mind?: Start with the company's size and status, since they determine whether the act covers it — this data is in the BRREG register and the accounts (årsregnskap). A NordScan report gathers a Norwegian company's legal form, status and finances in your language, in a single PDF, which eases an initial assessment. Covered companies also often publish a due-diligence account on their websites. Confirm the final legal qualification with an adviser.

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This guide is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Laws and registry rules may change — the information held in the relevant country's official registers is always decisive.