How to Use the EU CBAM Registry as a South African Exporter
The EU CBAM Registry is the central platform for CBAM compliance. This guide explains how the registry works and what South African exporters need to know about interacting with it.
How to Use the EU CBAM Registry as a South African Exporter
The EU CBAM Registry is the central platform for all CBAM compliance activity. While South African exporters are not directly registered in the registry as declarants, understanding how it works is essential for managing your EU customer relationships and ensuring your goods can enter the EU market.
Registry Structure
The EU CBAM Registry has three main components:
1. Declarant Registry Contains the records of all Authorised CBAM Declarants — the EU importers who are legally responsible for CBAM compliance. Each declarant has a unique CBAM account number and can view their certificate holdings and declaration history.
2. Certificate Registry Tracks the purchase, holding, and surrender of CBAM certificates. The registry maintains a real-time record of each declarant's certificate balance.
3. Operator Registry Contains records of non-EU producers (including SA exporters) who supply CBAM-covered goods. Operators can be registered by their EU customers to facilitate data exchange and embedded carbon reporting.
How SA Exporters Interact with the Registry
Verifying your EU customer's registration: Before shipping CBAM-covered goods, verify that your EU customer is registered as an Authorised CBAM Declarant. Use the public search function on the EU CBAM portal (cbam.ec.europa.eu) to search by company name or EORI number.
Providing embedded carbon data: Your EU customer will need your embedded carbon data to complete their CBAM declaration. The registry supports structured data exchange between operators (SA exporters) and declarants (EU importers).
Operator registration: Consider asking your EU customer to register your production facility as an operator in the registry. This creates a formal link between your production data and your customer's CBAM declarations, reducing administrative burden for both parties.
Practical Checklist for SA Exporters
- ▸[ ] Verify EU customer is registered as Authorised CBAM Declarant
- ▸[ ] Prepare embedded carbon documentation (actual or default)
- ▸[ ] Obtain SARS carbon tax certificate for deduction claim
- ▸[ ] Agree on data sharing protocol with EU customer
- ▸[ ] Register your facility as an operator (optional but recommended)
For a complete CBAM compliance registration pathway, visit the Digital Product Passport Registry.
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 →