Brief Description

The accredited “CBAM Verification” service provided by TÜV AUSTRIA Hellas concerns the mandatory verification of embedded emissions for “CBAM Goods” imported from non‑EU countries. The service supports obligated Organizations in ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and compliance of the submitted data with the requirements of the CBAM regulatory framework.

The “Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism” (CBAM) was established by Regulation (EU) 2023/956 with the objective of preventing carbon leakage and ensuring a level playing field between goods manufactured within and outside the European Union.

Under this framework, companies importing from third countries into the EU goods that fall within the scope of the Regulation are required to submit an annual CBAM declaration for the previous calendar year. This declaration includes the total embedded greenhouse gas emissions of the imported goods. The scope covers:

• Iron and Steel
• Cement
• Aluminum
• Fertilizers
• Electricity
• Hydrogen

The service “CBAM Verification” covers:

• Verification of 2025 data – aimed at timely preparation and optimization of data collection systems (voluntary verification service)
• Verification of 2026 data and onwards – mandatory where embedded emissions are determined based on actual values

Detailed Description

The Regulation complements the existing European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and aims to address the risk of carbon leakage by taking into account emissions embedded in carbon-intensive goods upon their importation into the customs territory of the European Union.

Through CBAM, the objective is to ensure that the carbon cost borne by goods manufactured in third countries is comparable to the corresponding cost applied to similar goods produced within the EU, thereby enhancing transparency and ensuring fair market conditions.

If, during the calculation of the embedded emissions of imported goods, verified actual values based on primary data from producers are not used, predefined (default) values are applied. These include safety margins, which may lead to:

• Higher declared emissions
• An increased number of required CBAM certificates
• Significantly higher financial costs

What is the Certification procedure?

Who is this service addressed to?

The “CBAM Verification” service is addressed to:

• Importers and authorized declarants within the EU required to submit CBAM declarations
• Non-EU producers wishing to verify the embedded emissions of their goods, enabling their European customers to use actual, verified values instead of default values

For non-EU producers, verification now constitutes a commercial advantage and a critical factor in maintaining access to the European market.

What are the benefits of verification?

• Use of actual values instead of default values: Verification enables the use of actual emissions data rather than default values, which incorporate mark-ups and lead to an increased number of required CBAM certificates (emissions levies).
• Reliable CBAM reporting: Verification enhances the credibility and transparency of declared emissions data.
• Protection against fines: Reduces the risk of sanctions due to incomplete or inaccurate submissions.
• Timely and structured compliance: Businesses gain experience and adopt a structured approach to calculating the embedded emissions of their goods.