The Government of Norway has set 2027 as the target year for the introduction of the Carbon Based Import Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) under the Agreement on the European Economic Area.
This is stated in a message on the official website of this executive body.
The Ministry of Climate and the Environment and the Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency will be responsible for implementing CBAM.
The purpose of the mechanism is to prevent the European industry from being forced out of the market or moving production to countries where greenhouse gas pollution is associated with low or no costs.
“The government believes that the CBAM can be a useful tool to ensure the competitiveness of Norwegian industry while encouraging other countries to reduce their emissions,” said Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
The Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency will have the primary responsibility for regulating the CBAM, will be responsible for the annual CBAM declarations and will coordinate the administration work. The Norwegian Tax Administration will be responsible for issuing permits to importers and collecting fines for violations, while the country's customs will control goods at the border.
It is planned that importers of CBAM goods will receive an EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification – a unique identifier required for businesses and individuals engaged in international trade within the EU – ed.) and begin the process of applying for CBAM declarant status in 2026 so that CBAM can be implemented from 2027.
The decision to introduce this mechanism was made by the government last fall.
“Norway and Europe have ambitious climate policies. CBAM will help ensure that the same price is set for emissions from the production of goods, regardless of whether they are produced in Norway and the EU or imported from other countries. I think this is good for Norwegian industry and Norwegian jobs,” said Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Minister of Climate and Environment.
As a reminder, on February 26, the European Commission unveiled the Clean Industry Agreement, which, in particular, provides for a number of simplifications for importers, as well as a postponement of the sale of CBAM certificates until 2027. EcoPolitic also reported that after the proposed innovations, carbon emission prices in the EU decreased.
