Glossary
Glossary term

importation

A regulatory term referring to release for free circulation as provided for in Article 201 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013.

2 official sourcesrelated_but_not_identical

What does importation mean?

Importation matters because border-entry obligations often depend on the customs event that brings goods into the Union market. In CBAM, the term is defined by reference to the UCC concept of release for free circulation.

Official definitions by source

CBAM

Regulation (EU) 2023/956 establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism

release for free circulation as provided for in Article 201 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013;

Reference: Article 3, point 4

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Union Customs Code context

Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 laying down the Union Customs Code

Non-Union goods intended to be put on the Union market or intended for private use or consumption within the customs territory of the Union shall be placed under release for free circulation. Release for free circulation shall confer on non-Union goods the customs status of Union goods.

Reference: Article 201

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How the definitions differ

Importation is a regulatory term used in CBAM and anchored in the Union Customs Code concept of release for free circulation; in this context it refers to the customs event through which non-Union goods enter the Union market as Union goods under Article 201 of the UCC.

Why it matters in practice

This term matters when companies need to identify the customs moment that triggers importer-side obligations, emissions reporting duties, or other trade compliance consequences tied to goods entering the Union market.

Minespider commentary

For Minespider, importation is best understood as a customs-procedure event, not just a plain-language shipping event. That distinction matters when mapping regulatory triggers accurately.

Common confusions

  • Assuming importation simply means physical arrival of goods at the border.
  • Missing the fact that CBAM ties importation to release for free circulation under the UCC.
  • Treating ordinary logistics language and customs-procedure language as interchangeable.