Authorised CBAM declarant

Above the de minimis threshold, only holders of the authorised CBAM declarant status may import CBAM goods. In Germany the status is granted by the German Emissions Trading Authority. The application needs lead time.

Who needs the status

Once your cumulative imports pass the 50-tonne threshold, the exemption is gone. From that point, only an authorised CBAM declarant may bring CBAM goods into the customs territory of the Union. No status, no import. It is that direct.

The competent authority

In Germany the status is granted by the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt), housed within the Federal Environment Agency. It is a defined procedure with requirements, not a box to tick at the border. Other member states run their own national authorities, so the desk you deal with depends on where you are established.

Do not sleep through the deadline

The transitional arrangements matter. An importer who has applied in good time may, under conditions, keep importing while the application is examined. An importer who has not applied risks being shut out at the point of entry. The difference between the two outcomes is a few weeks of foresight.

What to prepare

Establish whether your annual quantity crosses the threshold, gather the company and import data the application calls for, and file before the season when your volumes climb. The status is a gate. Build it before you need to walk through it.

Information on the CBAM is given to the best of our knowledge, as of June 2026, without guarantee. Dynamic values such as certificate prices, default values and deadlines can change. The applicable legal acts and the competent authorities are decisive. This article is not legal, tax or customs advice.