1640. (1) Without prejudice to the requirements of Chapter 5 and subject to subsection (2), a recognised accountancy body may approve a third-country auditor to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting if that person has furnished proof that he or she complies with requirements equivalent to those specified in section 1628.

(2) A third-country auditor shall not be approved under subsection (1) unless reciprocal arrangements with the third country concerned are in place, that is to say arrangements that enable a statutory auditor to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting in that third country –

(a) by virtue of the law of that third country, and

(b) on fulfilment by the statutory auditor concerned of requirements no more onerous than those specified by this section and Chapter 5 for the third-country auditor’s approval under subsection (1).]