New EEA veterinary and phytosanitary standards 2026: what exporters and importers must do

Key data

If your company exports or imports agri-food, livestock or plant products to or from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, this regulation affects you directly and is already in force. The Decision 118/2026 of the EEA Joint Committee, published on 23 July 2026 in the EU Official Journal (reference OJ:L_202601495), updates Annex I of the EEA Agreement, which regulates veterinary and phytosanitary matters in the enlarged internal market.

The objective is to incorporate new European animal and plant health regulations into the EEA scope, ensuring that the three non-EU countries in the area —Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein— apply the same rules as EU Member States in agri-food trade.

What does this regulation establish?

The EEA Agreement allows Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to participate in the European internal market without being EU members. For this to work, their standards must be equivalent to those of the EU. The EEA Joint Committee is the body responsible for periodically incorporating new European legislation into the Agreement's annexes.

Decision 118/2026 specifically amends Annex I, which covers veterinary and phytosanitary matters. This means that new European regulations approved in the field of:

• Animal health: requirements for the trade in live animals and animal products
• Plant health: phytosanitary requirements for plants and plant products
• Food industry: operators in the sector trading in the EEA area

...is now incorporated into the legal framework applicable to trade relations between the EU (including Spain) and the three non-EU EEA countries.

The amendment ensures regulatory homogeneity in the enlarged internal market: Spanish companies operating with these countries must comply with exactly the same standards as if they were trading within the EU, but now with the updated new requirements.

Economic and operational impact

The main impact is not direct cost in the form of a new fee or tariff, but operational and compliance risk. The concrete effects for companies are:

• Risk of border rejection: if the documentation or products do not meet the new requirements incorporated into Annex I, the authorities of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein —or Spanish authorities in the reverse direction— may reject the shipment at the border control point.
• Administrative sanctions: non-compliance with veterinary or phytosanitary requirements may result in enforcement proceedings at origin or destination.
• Documentary adaptation costs: updating health certificates, phytosanitary declarations and internal procedures to reflect the new standards.
• Review of contracts and commercial agreements: supply contracts with operators from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein may require updated clauses on regulatory compliance.

Since the entry into force is 30 April 2026 —prior to the official publication date (23 July 2026)— any operation carried out from that date must already comply with the new requirements. Companies that have operated between April and July without verifying the update should review whether there is any risk of retroactive non-compliance.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish exporters of live animals, meat products, dairy, eggs, fish and other animal products to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
• Spanish importers of the same products from those three countries
• Exporters and importers of plants and plant products (fruits, vegetables, seeds, plant propagation material) in operations with non-EU EEA countries
• Livestock sector operators that carry out movements of live animals destined for or originating from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
• Food industry companies that trade in the EEA area with products subject to veterinary or phytosanitary controls
• Advisors, customs agents and logistics operators that manage health documentation for these operations

Practical example

A Spanish meat product exporting company that has a regular supply contract with a Norwegian distributor must, from 30 April 2026, verify that its health certificates and the accompanying documentation for each shipment reflect the updated requirements of Annex I of the EEA Agreement according to Decision 118/2026.

If a border inspection in Norway detects that the documentation does not conform to the new standards incorporated —for example, because the veterinary certificates follow the format prior to the update— the shipment may be retained or rejected, with the costs of return, destruction or re-shipment that this entails, plus the possible initiation of an enforcement proceeding.

The same risk applies in the reverse direction: a Spanish importer receiving animal products from Iceland must ensure that the supplier's documentation complies with the new requirements before the goods pass controls at the Spanish entry point.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you operate with non-EU EEA countries: confirm whether your company has active or planned commercial operations with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein in animal, plant or agri-food products.
2. Review the health documentation in use: verify that the veterinary and phytosanitary certificates accompanying your shipments are updated in accordance with the new requirements of Annex I of the EEA Agreement.
3. Consult with your competent authority: contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the competent regional authority to confirm what specific changes Decision 118/2026 introduces in the certification models you use.
4. Inform your business partners: communicate the regulatory update to your suppliers or customers in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein so they also adapt their documentation.
5. Review operations from 30 April 2026: since the entry into force is prior to official publication, check whether any operation carried out between April and July may present a risk of non-compliance and document the measures adopted.
6. Update internal procedures: incorporate verification of compliance with the updated Annex I of the EEA Agreement as a mandatory step in the process of preparing exports and imports with these countries.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at 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_202601495