What should we ask suppliers for?

Some UK CBAM information will need to come from outside your business. The producer may know how the goods were made; the supplier may simply hold the commercial relationship. Start early and keep the request status separate from the quality of the evidence.

Give the supplier enough context

Identify the product and the business relationship clearly. Include, where known:

• your product name, purchase reference or part number
• the 8-digit commodity code used for import
• the producer and production site, if different from the supplier
• the period or shipments the request covers
• a contact in your business for questions

Ask what emissions information is available

Ask whether the producer has product-specific information for the emissions created while making the goods. Request the calculation method, units and production period alongside the figure so an adviser can understand what it represents.

If the business plans to rely on actual emissions information, current HMRC guidance says it will need qualifying verification. Ask for the verifier’s report or a clear reference to it—not only the supplier’s statement that the data is verified.

Keep related evidence separate

The following are different records and should not be merged into one “evidence received” tick:

1. Supplier response. The email, portal response or document sent back.
2. Emissions information. The figure, units, method, production site and period it covers.
3. Independent verification. The report or reference showing who verified the actual emissions information.
4. Carbon price evidence. If relevant, evidence of a carbon price already paid in the country of production.

Track the status without overstating it

• Not requested: nobody has asked yet.
• Requested: the request has been sent; no usable answer has arrived.
• Part received: something arrived, but important information is missing.
• Received: a response arrived; its contents still need review.
• Actual · not verified: supplier-specific information exists but no qualifying verification is referenced.
• Actual · verifier report referenced: a report is available for an adviser to review.

A short first request

Ask for the information in plain language, set a response date and explain why the request matters. Carbon Verify’s downloadable supplier request gives procurement a starting point and keeps the response linked to the working record.