What is an Authorised CBAM Declarant? Registration Requirements and Obligations
A complete guide to the Authorised CBAM Declarant role — who must register, what the obligations are, and how African exporters can support their EU buyers.
The Authorised CBAM Declarant: The EU Side of the Equation
The legal obligation to purchase CBAM certificates lies with the Authorised CBAM Declarant — an entity registered in the EU. African exporters themselves do not register as CBAM declarants, but they must provide the embedded emissions data the declarant needs.
Who Must Register?
Any entity that imports CBAM-covered goods into the EU must register as an Authorised CBAM Declarant before the first import: EU-based importers, EU customs agents, EU subsidiaries of African companies.
Registration Requirements
- ▸Be established in an EU Member State
- ▸No serious infringement of customs or tax rules in the past 3 years
- ▸Register via the CBAM Registry portal
- ▸Obtain a CBAM Account Number (CAN)
The Declarant's Annual Obligations
| Deadline | Obligation | |---|---| | 31 January | Submit CBAM declaration for the previous calendar year | | 31 May | Surrender CBAM certificates equal to declared embedded emissions | | Ongoing | Purchase CBAM certificates from the national competent authority |
What African Exporters Must Provide
- ▸Actual embedded emissions (tCO₂e per tonne) — verified by an accredited verifier
- ▸Production country and facility details
- ▸Carbon price paid in the country of origin (for offset purposes)
Register at the Digital Product Passport Registry to formalise your CBAM data sharing obligations with EU buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Complete all three compliance gates — Gate 1 KYC identity verification, Gate 2 CBAM financial authorisation, and Gate 3 Digital Product Passport registration — in one place at the DPP Registry.
Start Three Gates Registration →