The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has announced new commencement dates for six prudential and reporting standards that have been finalised but are yet to fully come into effect.
It follows last month's announcement that APRA was suspending the majority of its planned policy and supervision initiatives in response to COVID-19. At the time, APRA foreshadowed it would also consider adjusting implementation dates for policy initiatives that had been finalised but not yet commenced.
In revising its implementation dates, APRA has sought to balance the need to ensure its prudential framework remains fit for purpose with enabling APRA-regulated entities to focus their time and resources on dealing with the impact of COVID-19.
The affected standards and their revised commencement dates are set out in the table below.
Industry |
Prudential Standard or Policy proposal |
Initial commencement date |
Revised commencement date |
Cross-industry |
CPS 226 Margining and Risk Mitigation for Non-Centrally Cleared Derivatives (phase-in of initial margin requirements) |
1 September 2020, 2021 |
1 September 2021, 2022 |
CPS 234 Information Security (third-party arrangements transition provision) |
1 July 2020 |
Six month extension to 1 January 2021 available on a case-by-case basis |
|
Banking |
APS 220 Credit Risk Management |
1 January 2021 |
1 January 2022 |
APS 222 Associations with Related Entities ARS 222.0 Exposures to Related Entities ARS 222.2 Exposures to Related Entities - Step-in risk |
1 January 2021 |
1 January 2022 |
Today's announcement confirms that APRA will defer the next two phase-in periods of initial margin requirements for non-centrally cleared derivatives as set out in CPS 226 by 12 months, consistent with the joint decision by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions.1
In relation to the CPS 234 third-party arrangements transition provision, APRA will consider requests for a six-month extension by regulated entities on a case-by-case basis. Entities seeking an extension must advise APRA of the nature of their third-party arrangements, and how they are monitoring the risks associated with these arrangements. Given the potential for increased vulnerability to cyber risks in the current environment, APRA advises all regulated entities to remain vigilant in maintaining their information security.
APRA has also advised that the commencement date for APS 222 will be deferred until 1 January 2022. In the interim, ADIs should not be actively increasing exposures to their overseas banking and insurance subsidiaries without prior consultation with APRA.
