How to Register in the CBAM Registry as an EU Importer
Quick answer
The CBAM registry is a secure, standardised electronic database established by the European Commission to manage authorised declarants and related data under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). It facilitates communication, reporting, and compliance monitoring between importers, customs, and competent authorities within the EU [1], [2].
Key takeaways
- The CBAM registry contains detailed information on authorised CBAM declarants, their accounts, and CBAM certificates [1:1].
- It enables secure communication and data exchange among the Commission, customs authorities, competent authorities, and importers [2:1].
- The CBAM Transitional Registry was the initial system used during the transitional period ending 31 December 2025, now replaced by the permanent CBAM registry [3], [4].
- The registry is composed of multiple portals tailored to different users, including importers, competent authorities, and the European Commission [5].
- The CBAM registry is interconnected with other EU systems such as the Customs Risk Management System and the EU Single Window Environment to support risk analysis and compliance checks [6].
- Confidentiality rules apply, with certain data publicly accessible while most information remains confidential [1:2].
What is the CBAM Registry?
The CBAM registry is a standardised and secure electronic database established by the European Commission pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2023/956. Its primary purpose is to contain data regarding authorised CBAM declarants and their CBAM certificates, facilitating the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism within the EU [1:3]. The registry supports real-time and automatic information sharing with customs and competent authorities to ensure effective monitoring and enforcement of CBAM obligations.
By storing detailed accounts of authorised declarants, including their identification and transaction data, the CBAM registry acts as the backbone of the EU’s carbon import adjustment framework. It is designed to provide transparency, traceability, and compliance assurance for imports of goods subject to CBAM rules [1:4].
Key Functions and Structure of the CBAM Registry
The CBAM registry performs several critical functions:
- It holds data elements related to CBAM accounts, declarations, applications for authorised declarant status, operator registrations, and verification reports issued by accredited verifiers [2:2].
- It enables communication, notifications, registration processes, checks, and information exchange between the Commission, customs authorities, competent authorities, authorised declarants, applicants, and operators [2:3].
- It supports analytical tasks, including risk analysis functions performed by the Commission to monitor compliance and detect circumvention [2:4].
- The Commission is the system owner, ensuring centralised oversight and management [2:5].
The registry’s structure consists of four main components, each serving different user groups:
- CBAM Declarants Portal (CBAM DP): The interface for authorised declarants to manage their accounts and submit required information.
- CBAM National Competent Authorities Portal (CBAM NCA): Used by national authorities to oversee compliance and enforcement within their jurisdiction.
- CBAM European Commission Portal (CBAM COM): Provides the Commission with access for supervision, risk analysis, and system management.
- CBAM Operators Portal (CBAM Operator): Enables operators, including those in third countries, to register and interact with the system as necessary [5:1].
Additionally, decisions on penalties issued by competent authorities are communicated to the Commission via the CBAM registry, ensuring a centralised record of enforcement actions [5:2].
The CBAM Transitional Registry: A Look Back
Before the permanent CBAM registry became operational, the CBAM Transitional Registry was used during the transitional period from 1 October 2023 until 31 December 2025. This transitional system was designed to facilitate reporting obligations and data collection in a standardised and secure manner [3:1].
The CBAM Transitional Registry consisted of several common components, including:
- CBAM Trader Portal (CBAM TP): For reporting declarants to submit CBAM reports.
- CBAM Competent Authorities Portal (CBAM CAP): With segregated spaces for national authorities and the Commission.
- User Access Management and Back End Services: To manage access rights and system operations.
- A public CBAM page hosted on the Europa website [7].
During the transitional period, reporting declarants were required to submit quarterly CBAM reports within one month after the end of each quarter. These reports included detailed information on imports and emissions embedded in the goods, and could be submitted either directly by importers or through indirect customs representatives [4:1].
The transitional registry enabled communication and information exchange between the Commission, competent authorities, customs, and reporting declarants, ensuring a smooth preparatory phase before the full implementation of the permanent CBAM registry [3:2].
Who Uses the CBAM Registry?
The CBAM registry serves a range of users involved in the CBAM compliance chain:
- Authorised CBAM Declarants: Importers or indirect customs representatives who have been granted authorised status and are responsible for submitting declarations and managing CBAM accounts [8], [1:5].
- Competent Authorities of Member States: National authorities responsible for overseeing compliance, conducting checks, and enforcing penalties within their jurisdiction [5:3].
- Customs Authorities: Access the registry in real time to verify that goods are imported by authorised declarants and to support risk analysis and compliance monitoring [1:6], [6:1].
- The European Commission: Manages the CBAM registry, performs risk analysis, monitors compliance, and publishes aggregated emissions data related to CBAM goods [1:7], [2:6].
- Operators and Accredited Verifiers: Operators in third countries and accredited verifiers are registered in the CBAM registry to ensure transparency and verification of emissions data [1:8].
This multi-user access ensures that the CBAM registry functions as an integrated platform for managing the complex data and procedural requirements of the CBAM system.
Data and Confidentiality in the CBAM Registry
The CBAM registry contains a wide range of data elements, including:
- Identification details of authorised CBAM declarants such as name, address, contact information, and EORI number.
- Details of CBAM accounts, including certificate identification numbers, sale prices, and transaction dates (sale, surrender, repurchase, cancellation).
- Information about operators and installations in third countries, as well as accredited verifiers [1:9].
While the registry contains sensitive commercial and personal data, confidentiality is a key principle. Most information is confidential and accessible only to authorised users such as competent authorities and the Commission. However, some information is publicly available, including names, addresses, corporate registration numbers, contact details of operators, locations of installations, and details of accredited verifiers. Operators may opt out of having certain data publicly accessible [1:10].
The public information is made accessible by the Commission in an interoperable format, supporting transparency without compromising confidentiality [1:11].
Interconnections with Other EU Systems
The CBAM registry is interconnected with several other EU electronic systems to enhance data accuracy, risk analysis, and compliance monitoring:
- Surveillance System (SURV3): Provides import declaration data and information on goods listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/956, enabling checks and risk analysis [6:2].
- EU Single Window Environment: Facilitates verification that goods are imported only by authorised declarants and that CBAM obligations are fulfilled [6:3].
- National Customs Systems: Provide information on imports, re-exports, inward processing, and processed products involving CBAM goods. Where automatic exchange is unavailable, data can be communicated directly via the CBAM registry [6:4].
- Customs Risk Management System (CRMS2): Supports exchange of risk information and analysis results between customs, competent authorities, and the Commission [6:5].
These interconnections ensure that the CBAM registry operates within a broader digital ecosystem, enabling comprehensive monitoring and enforcement of CBAM obligations.
FAQ
How do I register for the CBAM registry as an importer?
Importers or indirect customs representatives apply for the status of authorised CBAM declarant through the CBAM registry system. The application process is managed via the CBAM Declarants Portal and involves submitting required documentation to the competent authority of the Member State where the importer is established [8:1], [2:7].
What information is stored in the CBAM registry?
The registry stores detailed information on authorised declarants, including their identification data, CBAM account details, CBAM certificates transactions, operator registrations, and verification reports by accredited verifiers. It also contains information on operators and installations in third countries [1:12], [2:8].
Can I submit my CBAM report through an indirect customs representative?
Yes. During the transitional period, CBAM reports could be submitted either by importers themselves or by indirect customs representatives on their behalf. The registry records who submits the report. If an indirect customs representative refuses to submit the report, they must notify the importer of their obligation to comply [4:2].
Is the information in the CBAM registry public?
Most information in the CBAM registry is confidential and accessible only to authorised users. However, certain data such as names, addresses, corporate registration numbers of operators, locations of installations, and accredited verifiers are publicly accessible. Operators may choose to restrict public access to some of their data [1:13].
What is the difference between the CBAM Transitional Registry and the permanent CBAM Registry?
The CBAM Transitional Registry was a temporary system used during the transitional period (1 October 2023 to 31 December 2025) to facilitate reporting and data collection. It consisted of portals and components designed for reporting declarants and authorities. The permanent CBAM registry, operational since 2026, is a more comprehensive system with enhanced functionalities, structured portals for various users, and integration with other EU systems [3:3], [4:3], [5:4].
Which EU systems are connected to the CBAM registry?
The CBAM registry is interconnected with the Surveillance system (SURV3), the EU Single Window Environment, national customs systems, and the Customs Risk Management System (CRMS2). These connections support data exchange, risk analysis, and compliance monitoring [6:6].
The CBAM registry represents a critical digital infrastructure for the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism, ensuring that importers comply with environmental obligations while facilitating efficient administration and enforcement. Importers and other stakeholders should remain informed of any regulatory updates and consult the relevant national competent authority or qualified legal counsel for guidance tailored to their specific circumstances.
