Exporting to the EEA in 2026: new veterinary and technical requirements for Spanish companies

Key data

Spanish companies exporting to the European Economic Area must pay attention to a change that is already in force: Decision 262/2025 of the EEA Joint Committee, adopted on 5 December 2025 and published on 16 April 2026, updates the standards that Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein must apply in matters of veterinary, phytosanitary and technical certification.

The objective of this decision is to maintain regulatory homogeneity throughout the EEA, ensuring that the free movement of goods takes place under equivalent conditions in all 30 countries of the area. But for exporting companies, this means one concrete thing: market access requirements in those three countries may have changed, and it is necessary to verify this before it affects ongoing operations.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 262/2025 modifies two key annexes of the EEA Agreement:

The mechanics of the EEA Agreement work as follows: when the EU approves new legislation in these matters, the EEA Joint Committee decides whether to incorporate it into the Agreement so that the three non-EU countries apply it as well. This decision does exactly that: it incorporates new Community legislation into the annexes of the Agreement.

The practical result is that Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein must adapt their national legislation. Until they do so, there may be a transition period with divergent requirements that exporting companies must know about and manage.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not uniform for all companies. It depends on what you export and to which country. The most relevant effects are:

• Changes in market access requirements: If the new veterinary or technical standards are more stringent than the previous ones, your products or processes may need updates to continue being admitted in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Review of certifications: Products subject to technical certification may require new tests, markings or updated documentation to comply with Annex II standards.
• Adaptation costs: Depending on the sector and the scope of the specific changes incorporated, costs can range from a documentary update to the modification of production processes or the obtaining of new certifications.
• Market opportunity: Regulatory harmonization also facilitates market access for companies that already comply with EU standards, since Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein must apply the same rules.

The agri-food sector is the most exposed, especially companies that export products of animal or plant origin, where veterinary and phytosanitary requirements are particularly strict and change more frequently.

Who does it affect?

• Agri-food exporters selling products of animal origin (meat, dairy, fish, eggs) or plant origin to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Manufacturers of technical products subject to certification, CE marking or other conformity standards that export to these three countries.
• Companies in the veterinary sector that market medicines, feed, equipment or services related to animal health in the EEA.
• Phytosanitary operators that export plants, seeds, phytosanitary products or plant reproduction material.
• Foreign trade advisors and CFOs of companies with operations in the markets of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein that must review the regulatory compliance of their supply chains.

Practical example

A Spanish company manufacturing food processing equipment that exports machinery to Norway under European technical certification must verify whether the new standards incorporated in Annex II of the EEA Agreement affect the conformity requirements of its products.

If the new Community technical standards incorporated by this decision include additional testing or certification requirements for that type of machinery, the company will need to update its technical documentation and, where appropriate, obtain new certifications before Norway completes its legislative adaptation and requires compliance at the border.

The same reasoning applies to a meat product exporter to Iceland: if Annex I incorporates new veterinary requirements for products of animal origin, it must verify with its official veterinarian and with the competent authorities whether its export health certificates remain valid or need to be updated.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you export to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein agri-food products, animals or goods subject to technical certification. If so, this decision directly affects you.
2. Review what specific Community legislation has been incorporated into Annexes I and II of the EEA Agreement through this decision, consulting the full text in the Official Journal of the EU.
3. Verify the status of legislative adaptation of each destination country (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) to know whether they already apply the new standards or if there is a transition period.
4. Contact your certification body or the competent authorities (MAPA for agri-food products, notified bodies for technical products) to confirm whether your current certifications remain valid.
5. Update export documentation if changes in requirements are detected: health certificates, declarations of conformity, technical sheets or any other document required at the border.
6. Inform your sales and logistics team about possible changes in entry requirements to avoid detentions or rejections at the border that generate additional costs.

Official source

Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No. 262/2025, of 5 December 2025, published in the Official Journal of the EU on 16 April 2026. This decision modifies Annexes I and II of the EEA Agreement to incorporate new Community standards in veterinary, phytosanitary and technical matters that Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein must apply.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance on how this regulation affects your company, consult with a legal advisor or the competent authorities in your sector.