The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is looking for greater insight into the sorts of non-traditional products and services being offered by credit rating agencies.

IOSCO on Monday published a consultation report on how market participants are using non-traditional products or services from the rating agencies, such as private ratings, provisional ratings, and portfolio assessment tools, among other things.

These sorts of products are important, IOSCO says, because investors and others may be using them to make investment and other credit-related decisions. As well, issuers may use them to decide whether to obtain a credit rating from a particular rating agency.

The consultation paper aims to inform IOSCO’s understanding of these products and services, and how they differ from traditional credit ratings. It follows from a survey launched last year, along with other recent consultations on the ratings business.

IOSCO is seeking responses by Dec. 5.