These changes are vital for any business involved in importing carbon-intensive goods into the EU. Our guide breaks down the most important updates and what they mean for your business.
Key Updates to the CBAM Regulation
The recent amendments introduce several crucial changes designed to reduce administrative burden while enhancing compliance and enforcement. Here’s a look at the most important updates at a glance:
- Single Mass-Based Threshold: A new exemption has been established for smaller importers. A threshold of 50 tonnes net weight per importer per calendar year has been introduced for specific goods, including iron, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, and cement. This will significantly reduce reporting obligations for many businesses. It is important to note that electricity and hydrogen are excluded from this new provision.
- Adjusted Deadline for CBAM Statements: To provide more flexibility, the deadline for submitting annual CBAM statements and certificates has been adjusted. The new deadline is now September 30th of the following calendar year, a change that will come into effect starting from 2027 for the 2026 reporting year.
- Delegation of Submission: Authorised CBAM declarants will now have the option to delegate the submission of their statements to a third party. This new provision offers greater flexibility in managing compliance requirements.
- Clearer Carbon Price Deduction Rules: The amendments include more detailed rules for how carbon prices paid in third countries can be deducted from CBAM obligations. This includes the possibility of using annual standard prices, simplifying the calculation process for importers.
- Enhanced Compliance & Enforcement: Alongside simplification, the new rules introduce stricter measures to ensure adherence. This includes tighter monitoring of the new import threshold and the implementation of penalties for non-compliance or exceeding the threshold without proper authorisation.
What These Changes Mean for You
These changes will officially apply from January 1, 2026, with certain provisions, such as the start of CBAM certificate sales, coming into force from February 1, 2027.
To ensure your business remains compliant and avoids import disruptions, we recommend taking the following steps:
- Assess Your Import Activities: Determine whether your import volumes for iron, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, and cement fall below the new 50-tonne threshold.
- Review New Deadlines: Understand the new submission deadlines and plan your reporting schedule accordingly.
- Explore Delegation: Consider if delegating your CBAM statement submissions to a third party is a suitable strategy for your business.
Stay ahead of the curve and adapt your compliance strategy to these critical updates.