Under CBAM, emissions figures built from actual plant data must be checked by an accredited verifier before they can be used in place of default values. Choosing the wrong verifier can cost time, money and credibility, because a verifier who lacks steel experience or the right accreditation may slow the process or produce findings your customers will not accept. This guide covers the checks to make, the questions to ask and how to compare offers. To discuss your own selection, you can review a verifier shortlist with our team.
CBAM verification for steel exporters
Choose a CBAM Verifier You Can Trust Before the Clock Runs Down
iFactory AI helps steel exporters prepare data and evidence so verification runs smoothly and the chosen verifier can focus on the right questions.
Four checks for every verifier
AccreditationSteel experienceIndependenceCost and timing
Why it matters
Verification Decides Whether Your Actual Data Counts
From 2026, actual emission values used in CBAM declarations must be verified by an accredited third party. Without verification, importers fall back on default values.
You collect data
Plant records, meters and calculations
Verifier checks
An independent review of method and data
Importer uses it
Verified actual values go into the declaration
Costs fall or rise
Default values are typically less favourable
The verifier does not prepare your calculations or provide consulting. The role is independent review.
What a verifier does
Four Activities in a Typical Verification
1
Plan
Review the monitoring method and risks.
2
Review data
Test records, meters and calculations.
3
Visit the site
Check processes, instruments and evidence in person.
4
Report
Give an opinion on whether data is free of material misstatement.
Verification rules continue to evolve. Ask each verifier to explain the standards they work to and how they apply them to steel.
Selection criteria
Score Each Candidate on the Same Factors
| Criterion | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | Valid accreditation from a recognised national accreditation body for this work | Without it, your data may not be accepted |
| Steel experience | Previous work with integrated, DRI or scrap routes | Process knowledge shortens the review |
| Independence | No consulting or software role in your emissions calculations | Protects the credibility of the result |
| Location and access | Ability to visit your plants on time | Site visits are usually required |
| Capacity | Availability in busy periods | Late slots can delay declarations |
| Clarity | Plain scope, deliverables and fees | Avoids surprises later |
Get Your Data Ready Before You Choose
Share your monitoring method and data sources and see how iFactory AI could prepare evidence packs that make verification faster.
Red flags
Seven Warning Signs When Talking to Verifiers
1
Unclear accreditation
They cannot show valid scope or evidence.
2
No steel experience
They ask basic questions about your process.
3
Offers to do your calculations
This conflicts with independence.
4
Very low price
May mean thin site work or later add-ons.
5
Vague scope
No clear list of what is included.
6
No site visit planned
Verification normally includes on-site checks.
7
Slow answers
Delays now often mean delays later.
Be ready first
Four Layers of Evidence to Prepare Before the Verifier Arrives
Monitoring method
A written description of boundaries, sources and calculations.
Source data
Meter readings, invoices, laboratory results and production records.
Calculations
Spreadsheets or systems with version control and checks.
Evidence pack
An organised folder that links every number to proof.
The better the preparation, the shorter and cheaper the verification tends to be.
Timeline
A Typical Path From Selection to Report
1
Shortlist
Identify three to five qualified candidates.
2
Request proposals
Ask each for scope, team, timing and fees.
3
Compare and choose
Score proposals against the same criteria.
4
Prepare and verify
Share evidence early and agree the site visit.
5
Receive the opinion
Resolve findings and share the report with customers.
Book early. Verifiers can only complete the work once the relevant data period is closed, and busy seasons fill quickly.
What drives cost
Typical Factors Behind a Verification Quote
Fees are not standard, and each verifier prices differently. This split is an illustrative view of what often drives effort.
30
30
25
15
30 percent: Plant complexity
More routes, products and shared utilities mean more review.
30 percent: Data quality
Messy data takes longer to test.
25 percent: Site visit needs
Number of sites, travel and days on site.
15 percent: Reporting and follow-up
Findings, corrections and customer questions.
Do not choose on price alone. A cheaper verification that your customers do not accept costs far more.
Experience versus availability
Balance Fit and Timing
Candidate profile
Strong steel experience
Limited steel experience
Available when needed
Best choice
Experienced and available
Plan early
Book far ahead, or ask for earlier slots
Limited availability
Consider with care
Available but may need more of your time
Likely pass
Neither experience nor availability
Role clarity
Verifier Versus Consultant
Verifier
Independent reviewer
Checks method and data
Gives an opinion on accuracy
Must avoid conflicts of interest
Consultant or software partner
Helps build the method and calculations
Prepares data and evidence
Supports training and improvements
Cannot also verify the same work
Accreditation scope checked and recorded
Steel route experience confirmed
Independence from your calculation work confirmed
Site visit dates and access agreed
Clear scope, deliverables and fees in writing
Evidence pack prepared in advance
Customer acceptance of the verifier confirmed
Timeline agreed around declaration dates
Questions to ask
Six Questions to Put to Every Candidate
The same questions for every verifier make comparison fair.
Which steel plants have you verified?
Look for relevant routes and similar plant sizes.
What is your accreditation scope?
Ask for written evidence and validity dates.
Who will be on the team?
Check named people, not only the firm.
How many site days do you expect?
Compare assumptions across candidates.
What do you need from us and when?
Clear requests signal a well-run process.
How do you handle findings?
Ask about timing, communication and re-checks.
Take notes and score answers afterwards. First impressions can mislead.
Evidence flow
How Information Moves From Plant to Verifier
A clean flow of evidence shortens verification.
Meters and process dataProduction and purchase recordsLaboratory results
Organised evidence pack
Verifier reviewCorrections and clarificationsFinal verification report
Readiness stages
Where Are You Today?
Not ready
Method unclear, data gaps and scattered evidence.
Partly ready
Method written, some gaps, evidence in several places.
Ready
Method documented, data complete and evidence organised.
Being honest about your stage helps you ask for the right amount of time and support.
Roles inside your company
Four People Every Verification Needs
Project lead
I coordinate the verifier, deadlines and approvals.
Data owners
We provide records, meters and laboratory data.
Calculation owner
I explain the method and answer technical questions.
Site host
I arrange access, safety briefings and plant tours.
Agree who answers what before the verifier arrives. Slow answers often cause avoidable delays.
Types of finding
Not Every Finding Is Equally Serious
ObservationA suggestion to improve, no change needed
Minor issueA small error that is easy to correct
Significant issueA gap that must be fixed before sign-off
Material issueAn error large enough to change the reported result
Ask each verifier how they classify findings and how long corrections usually take.
Ninety days before
A Preparation Plan for the Quarter Before Verification
Days 1 to 30
Finish the monitoring method and close known data gaps.
Days 31 to 60
Test calculations, organise evidence and shortlist verifiers.
Days 61 to 90
Share the evidence plan, agree dates and prepare the site visit.
Start earlier if your plant has several routes. To build your plan, discuss a verification preparation timeline with our team.
Expert review
What a Climate Compliance Manager Would Check First
Expert review
Choose the verifier early and talk to them before data collection ends. Early conversations about method often prevent late findings that are expensive to fix.
Verdict
Strong when accreditation, steel experience and independence are all confirmed.
Watch for
Choosing on price and discovering later that customers will not accept the report.
Do next
Draft your evidence pack and speak to two or three verifiers about scope and timing.
Frequently asked questions
What Steel Exporters Ask About CBAM Verifiers
What accreditation should a CBAM verifier have?
Verification must be done by a verifier accredited by a national accreditation body for this type of work. Ask each candidate to show the scope and validity of their accreditation, and confirm with your EU customers that it will be accepted. Plan accreditation checks.
Can the same company calculate and verify our emissions?
No. The verifier must be independent and cannot prepare your calculations or act as your consultant on the same work. Use separate firms for building your method and for verification. Ask about role separation.
When should we engage a verifier?
Engage early, ideally before the data period ends, so you can agree the method, evidence format and site visit dates. Verification of a production year can only finish once the relevant data is complete. Plan your timeline.
How do we compare quotes fairly?
Ask every verifier for the same information: scope, team, site days, deliverables, timeline and fees. Score them against your criteria, and ask what is excluded. Cheap quotes with narrow scope can cost more later. Ask for a comparison template.
What can we do to lower verification effort?
Organise clean data, write down your method, keep evidence in one place and fix known gaps before the verifier arrives. Early engagement and clear communication also help. Review your evidence readiness.
Verified data, accepted by buyers
Walk Into Verification Prepared
Book a session with iFactory AI to review your method and data, prepare an evidence pack and shortlist verifiers with confidence.
