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What is a CBAM Communication Form — and How to Complete It

The CBAM Communication Form is the document SA exporters provide to their EU buyers to disclose embedded carbon data. This guide explains what it contains, who completes it, and where to get the EU Commission's official template.

Published April 2026·Last updated April 2026·carbonborderadjustment.co.za

What is a CBAM Communication Form?

The CBAM Communication Form is the primary document through which a South African exporter discloses the embedded carbon content of their goods to their EU buyer. It is the bridge between SA's production process and the EU's CBAM declaration system.

What the Communication Form Contains

The Communication Form captures the following key data points:

Identification: Product description, CN code, production period, and production facility details.

Specific Embedded Emissions (SEE): The total embedded carbon per tonne of product (tCO₂e/tonne), broken down into direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) emissions.

Calculation Methodology: Whether actual or default emission values were used, and the methodology applied (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1773).

Carbon Price Paid: The carbon price paid in the country of origin — for SA exporters, this is the SA carbon tax paid to SARS, expressed in EUR per tonne of CO₂.

Verification Status: Whether the embedded carbon data has been verified by an accredited third-party verifier.

Who Completes the Form

The Communication Form is completed by the non-EU producer — the South African exporter. It is then provided to the EU importer, who uses it to complete their formal CBAM declaration in the EU CBAM Registry.

The Commercial Importance of the Communication Form

SA exporters who provide a completed Communication Form with verified actual emission data give their EU buyers a direct cost advantage: fewer CBAM certificates to purchase, lower CBAM compliance costs, and a stronger commercial relationship.

SA exporters who do not provide a Communication Form force their EU buyers to use EU default emission values — which are set higher than SA actuals — resulting in higher costs for the EU buyer and potential commercial pressure on the SA exporter.

Where to Get the Official Template

The European Commission published the official CBAM Communication Form template as part of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1773. The template is available at:

For a complete CBAM compliance registration pathway, visit the Digital Product Passport Registry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a CBAM Communication Form?
A CBAM Communication Form is the document that a non-EU producer (such as a South African exporter) provides to their EU importer to disclose the embedded carbon content of their goods. It contains the specific embedded emissions (tCO₂e/tonne) for the goods, the calculation methodology used, and the carbon price paid in the country of origin (e.g., the SA carbon tax). The EU importer uses this data to complete their CBAM declaration and calculate the number of CBAM certificates to purchase.
Who is responsible for completing the CBAM Communication Form?
The non-EU producer — the South African exporter — is responsible for providing the embedded carbon data. The EU importer is responsible for completing the formal CBAM declaration using that data. In practice, SA exporters should prepare a Communication Form for each product they export to the EU, covering the production period in question.
Is the CBAM Communication Form a legal requirement?
The Communication Form is not a standalone legal requirement — the legal obligation is on the EU importer to declare embedded carbon. However, if the SA exporter does not provide verified actual data, the EU importer must use EU default emission values, which are set higher than SA actuals. Providing the Communication Form is therefore in the SA exporter's commercial interest.
Where can I get the official CBAM Communication Form template?
The European Commission published the official CBAM Communication Form template as part of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1773. The template is available on the EU CBAM Registry website (cbam.ec.europa.eu) and through the Digital Product Passport Registry, which provides a pre-filled template based on your verified carbon data.
What happens if the embedded carbon data in the Communication Form is incorrect?
If the data is incorrect and results in an understatement of embedded carbon, the EU importer may face penalties for surrendering insufficient CBAM certificates. The EU Commission has the authority to audit CBAM declarations and verify the accuracy of embedded carbon data. SA exporters who provide false or misleading data may face commercial and reputational consequences.
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