CBAM in Slovakia: the competent authority and how to obtain declarant status

Methodology: Marek Galetka, founder of Pravano. English translation of our Slovak article, which a person approved before publication; every number, date and legal reference of the translation is checked automatically against the original.

Cross-checked as of 10 September 2026 · based on primary sources

Updated 10 September 2026. Based on Regulation (EU) 2023/956 and the European Commission's list of national competent authorities. An informative readiness check, not a legal service or an official audit. Original: slovenská verzia.

The carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM, Regulation (EU) 2023/956) has been in its definitive period since 1 January 2026. The CBAM registry, applications for status and annual declarations run centrally through the European Commission, but the competent authority that assesses applications and with which a company communicates is designated by each member state itself.

Competent authority: the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic

The competent authority for CBAM in the Slovak Republic is the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, Climate Change and Air Protection Section. The contact is cbam@enviro.gov.sk; the ministry publishes information at www.minzp.sk/klima/cbam/. The designation has been notified to the European Commission under Article 11(1) of the regulation and is kept in its list of national competent authorities (version of 26 June 2026).

Unlike the Czech Republic, where two authorities operate (the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic), Slovakia has a single competent authority. The application for authorised CBAM declarant status is submitted to this authority through the CBAM registry.

When you need the status

The obligations are borne by the authorised CBAM declarant, which may be the importer or its indirect customs representative. Since 1 January 2026 there has been an exemption for importers of up to 50 tonnes net mass of the goods concerned in a calendar year (iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers); all items count towards the quantity, and the exemption does not apply to electricity and hydrogen (Article 2a(4)). Anyone who exceeds the threshold must have authorised declarant status; otherwise they may not import above the threshold at all. Importing without the status is punishable by three to five times the penalty (Article 26).

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Timeline

In 2026 certificates are neither purchased nor surrendered; data on embedded emissions are collected. The sale of certificates starts on 1 February 2027; the first annual declaration for 2026 must be submitted and the certificates surrendered by 30 September 2027. Anyone who expects to exceed the 50-tonne threshold must apply for the status in advance (Article 5(1b)): above the exemption under Article 2a, customs authorities will not allow goods to be imported by anyone other than an authorised declarant (Article 25(1)). The deadline of 31 March 2026 has already passed; an application submitted by that date allowed imports to continue until a decision was taken (Article 17(7a)). If you want to use actual emissions instead of default values in the first annual declaration for 2026, you need data from your suppliers verified by an accredited verifier (Article 8).

Primary sources

Frequently asked questions

Who is the competent authority for CBAM in Slovakia?

The Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, Climate Change and Air Protection Section (contact cbam@enviro.gov.sk, information at www.minzp.sk/klima/cbam/). The designation has been notified to the European Commission under Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/956 and is kept in its list of national competent authorities (version of 26 June 2026).

Where is the application for authorised declarant status submitted?

Through the CBAM registry, which the European Commission operates centrally; the application is addressed to the competent authority, in Slovakia the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic.

How does Slovakia differ from the Czech Republic?

In Slovakia there is a single competent authority (the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic). In the Czech Republic there are two authorities, the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic. A company established in Slovakia therefore handles the application and communication with a single authority.

Do we have to deal with CBAM if we import little?

Since 1 January 2026 there has been an exemption for importers who import up to 50 tonnes net mass of the goods concerned in a calendar year. All items for the whole year count towards the quantity, and the exemption does not apply to electricity and hydrogen. Anyone who exceeds the threshold needs authorised declarant status, and on exceeding it the obligations apply retroactively for the whole year.

When do we first have to pay for certificates?

In 2026 certificates are neither purchased nor surrendered; data are collected. The sale of certificates starts on 1 February 2027, and the first annual declaration for 2026 must be submitted and the certificates surrendered by 30 September 2027.

Find out what applies to us → More about CBAM in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

This article is a general explanation, not individual legal advice. A specific overview for your company (Pravano Kompas) comes with the free check – in writing, within 2 working days.