Key data
| Regulation | Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No. 162/2026, of June 5, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Official reference | OJ:L_202601985 [2026/1985] |
| Publication | September 24, 2026 |
| Entry into force | June 5, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Exporters and importers of animals, animal products and plants with non-EU EEA countries |
| Non-EU EEA countries involved | Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Year | 2026 |
If your company exports or imports animals, animal products or plants with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, this regulation affects you from now on. The Decision 162/2026 of the EEA Joint Committee amends Annex I of the EEA Agreement—which regulates veterinary and phytosanitary matters—by incorporating new EU legislation on animal and plant health.
The practical effect is clear: the three EEA countries that are not EU members are placed on equal footing with EU Member States in terms of health requirements for trade in these products. Any commercial operation with these destinations that does not comply with the new standards may be blocked at the border.
What does this regulation establish?
The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) allows Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to participate in the EU internal market without being members. For this to work, their legislation must be updated periodically to reflect EU legislative changes. That is exactly what Decision 162/2026 does.
Specifically, this decision updates the Annex I of the EEA Agreement, which covers veterinary and phytosanitary matters. The amendment incorporates new European legislation on:
- Animal health: requirements for trade in live animals
- Animal products: health conditions for their export and import
- Plant health: phytosanitary requirements for trade in plants and plant products
From the entry into force—June 5, 2026—Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein must apply the same requirements as any EU Member State. This means that Spanish operators trading with these countries must comply with exactly the same requirements as if they were operating with France, Germany or any other EU partner.
Economic and operational impact
The impact is not tariff-related—there are no new fees or tariffs—but rather operational and compliance-related. The economic consequences stem from non-compliance or failure to adapt:
- Border rejection: A shipment that does not meet the new health requirements may be rejected at the point of entry in the destination country, with the cost of return, destruction or re-shipment that this entails.
- Administrative sanctions: Non-compliance with updated health requirements may result in administrative sanctions, both in the destination country and in Spain.
- Adaptation costs: Reviewing and updating health certificates, control protocols and traceability documentation has a direct cost in time and internal or external resources (official veterinarians, foreign trade advisors).
- Market opportunity: For companies that already operate with EU standards, regulatory alignment can facilitate access to these markets by eliminating possible previous regulatory asymmetries.
Who does it affect?
This regulation directly affects any Spanish company or professional operating commercially with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein in the following areas:
- Exporters of live animals (livestock, poultry, aquaculture, companion animals for commercial purposes)
- Importers of live animals from these three countries
- Exporters of animal products: meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey and derivatives
- Importers of animal products from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
- Exporters and importers of plants, seeds and plant products
- Logistics operators and freight forwarders managing shipments of these categories to or from non-EU EEA
- Official veterinarians and plant health technicians who issue certificates for these operations
- Foreign trade advisors specializing in agri-food
Practical example
A Spanish dairy products exporting company that has a regular supply contract with a Norwegian distributor should act as follows:
Until June 4, 2026, its shipments were documented with health certificates in force under the previous EEA Agreement framework. From June 5, 2026, Norway applies the same health requirements as any EU Member State for the import of these products.
If the company has not verified that its health certificates and control protocols comply with the new legislation incorporated into Annex I of the EEA Agreement, its next shipment may be held or rejected at Norwegian customs. The cost of a rejection includes: return freight, possible destruction of perishable products, contractual penalties with the buyer and reputational damage.
The solution is preventive: contact the official veterinarian or the corresponding animal and plant health service to confirm that the documentation is up to date before each shipment.
What should companies do now?
- Identify if you operate with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein in any of the affected categories: animals, animal products or plants. If so, this regulation applies to you from June 5, 2026.
- Review current health certificates that accompany your exports or imports with these countries. Verify with your official veterinarian or plant health technician that they comply with the new requirements of Annex I of the EEA Agreement.
- Update internal control protocols to ensure that each shipment meets health requirements equivalent to those of the EU internal market.
- Communicate with your business partners in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein to confirm that they are aware of the changes and that the receiving processes at destination are equally updated.
- Consult with a specialist advisor in agri-food foreign trade if you have doubts about which specific EU legislation has been incorporated into Annex I and how it affects your specific product.
- Document all actions taken to demonstrate diligence in case of inspection or administrative claim.
Frequently asked questions
When do the new EEA veterinary and phytosanitary requirements come into force?
Decision 162/2026 of the EEA Joint Committee came into force on June 5, 2026, although it was published in the Official Journal on September 24, 2026. This means that the new requirements are enforceable from that date, so any operation carried out from June 5 must comply with them.
Which EEA countries are affected by this regulation?
The three EEA countries that are not EU members: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. These are precisely the countries that must incorporate the new EU legislation on animal and plant health through the amendment of Annex I of the EEA Agreement.
What happens if my company sends animal products to Norway without the new certificates?
Non-compliance with the new health requirements may result in two direct consequences: shipment rejection at the border (with the costs of return, re-shipment or product destruction) and administrative sanctions, both in the destination country and in Spain. It is recommended to verify the documentation before each shipment.
Does this regulation affect only exporters or also importers?
It affects both. Both Spanish companies that export animals, animal products or plants to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, and those that import these categories from those countries, must verify compliance with the new updated health requirements.
What documents should I review to comply with Decision 162/2026?
You should mainly review the health certificates that accompany your shipments and the control protocols in force with EEA operators. The review should be done with your official veterinarian (for animal products and live animals) or with the corresponding plant health technician (for plants and plant products).
Official source
View complete regulation in official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601985
