This marks the final step in the formal adoption process, signed by the European Parliament and the Council. It is a key move towards fostering a more competitive and sustainable business environment while effectively addressing climate change. Introduced as part of the “Omnibus I” legislative initiatives, the simplification measures are designed to enhance CBAM’s effectiveness in preventing carbon leakage while minimising the impact on small importers and exporters.

Key element of the package is a new exemption threshold of 50 tonnes for CBAM goods. Companies importing less than 50 tonnes of goods subject to CBAM annually will be exempt from CBAM obligations. This measure is expected to exempt approximately 182,000 importers, mostly SMEs and individuals, while still covering over 99% of emissions in scope. For those importers that remain in the CBAM scope, the adjustments will facilitate compliance with the reporting requirements and simplify the authorisation of declarants, the calculation of emissions, and compliance with the financial liability. The changes will reduce the regulatory and administrative burdens and compliance costs, particularly benefiting SMEs. In addition, as from 2027, the Commission may also, for third countries where carbon pricing rules are in place, determine and make available, in the CBAM registry, the default carbon prices for those third countries and publish the methodology for their calculation.