The EC is looking for a contractor to create a CBAM certificate platform

The European Commission (EC) is looking for a contractor to create a platform for cross-border carbon adjustment mechanism (CBAM) certificates, according to S&P Global.

The relevant tender for the creation of a common central platform for the implementation of the mechanism was announced in mid-February by the EC’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union and will run until March 20 this year. Under its terms, the contractor must develop a preliminary version of the platform by August 31, 2026, which will include all the basic functions necessary to support the sale, redemption, and reconciliation of certificates and will be ready for testing.

The system is expected to be operational by February 2027.

CBAM was finally introduced on January 1, 2026. However, importers will only be able to purchase certificates under the mechanism from February 2027 to cover emissions associated with their imports in the previous year. This will give companies more time to adapt.

At the same time, Euranimi, the European Association of Importers and Distributors of Non-Integrated Metals, recently called on the EU to extend the deadline for declaring CBAM emissions for imports for 2026 from September 30 to December 31, 2027.

The association believes that a three-month extension will give companies more time to obtain verified emissions data.

As noted, the availability of such verified data — and thus the ability to take advantage of lower carbon costs when purchasing from relevant producers — depends on factors that are completely beyond the importer’s control, namely:

• verification of emissions data from production facilities,
• verification of emissions associated with raw materials used in the production of goods.

«If verified data is not available, economically punitive default values must be applied. It is important to note that importers will only find out during 2027 — often not until the second half of the year — whether their suppliers’ emissions have been verified in time for the actual values to be declared,» Euranimi explained.

It should be noted that CBAM is beginning to have a real impact on import costs, raw material availability, and purchasing decisions throughout the supply chain. This opinion was expressed by Emil Ceglarski, purchasing director at Polish company Konstal sp. z o.o.