EEE Decision 64/2026: What Changes in Technical Certification for Exporting Companies

Key data

If your company exports or sells products in the European Economic Area market, this decision directly affects you. EEE Joint Committee Decision 64/2026, adopted on 20 March 2026 and published on 25 June 2026, updates Annex II of the EEE Agreement, which is the framework that ensures that technical standards, testing and certification systems are uniform across the 30 EEE countries: the 27 EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The mechanism is clear: when the EU approves new technical legislation, the EEE Joint Committee incorporates it into the EEE Agreement through decisions like this, so that the three non-EU countries are also bound. The practical result is that the certification requirements and technical standards applicable in those three markets are updated to the same level as in the EU.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 64/2026 amends Annex II of the EEE Agreement, which specifically regulates technical regulations, standards, testing and certification applicable in the expanded internal market. This annex is the instrument that ensures that a product certified in accordance with EU standards can also circulate freely in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and vice versa.

This type of amendment has a specific objective: to incorporate into the EEE scope the new technical legislation approved by the EU, ensuring regulatory homogeneity throughout the expanded internal market. Without this incorporation, the three non-EU EEE countries would fall behind the technical requirements in force in the EU, which would create trade barriers.

The areas covered by Annex II are broad and include, among others, regulations on product safety, electromagnetic compatibility, pressure equipment, medical devices, machinery, construction materials and other sectors regulated by EU technical directives and regulations.

Economic and operational impact

The economic impact of this decision materializes on two levels: the cost of technical adaptation and the risk of commercial blockage due to non-compliance.

Adaptation cost: Companies that already comply with the technical regulations in force in the EU should not incur significant additional costs, since the decision extends those same regulations to the three EEE countries. However, companies operating with specific certifications for non-EU EEE markets—or that have separate certification processes for Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein—will need to review whether their certificates remain valid or if they need updating.

Main operational risk: Compliance with the technical standards incorporated by this decision is a necessary condition for the free movement of goods in the EEE. A product that does not meet the new technical requirements may be blocked at customs or withdrawn from the market in any of the 30 EEE countries.

Main recipients of impact:

• Manufacturers who must update the technical documentation and declarations of conformity of their products.
• Certification bodies that must adapt their conformity assessment procedures to the new incorporated standards.
• Importers and distributors that market products in the EEE and are responsible for ensuring their technical compliance.

Who does it affect?

• Manufacturers of regulated products that export or sell in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Importers and distributors that introduce products into the EEE market from third countries.
• Certification bodies and testing laboratories accredited to operate in the EEE scope.
• Quality, compliance and foreign trade departments of industrial and consumer companies.
• Technical advisors and standardization consultants that support companies in certification processes.
• Companies in sectors regulated by technical directives: machinery, electrical equipment, medical devices, construction materials, pressure equipment, among others.

Practical example

A Spanish industrial machinery manufacturer that exports to Norway must ensure that its product complies with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EEE Agreement in its version updated by Decision 64/2026. If the EU has approved a new version of a technical directive applicable to its machinery and this decision incorporates it into the EEE, the company must:

1. Verify whether the new technical legislation incorporated affects the category of its product.
2. Update the declaration of conformity and technical documentation of the product if applicable.
3. Confirm with its certification body that the current certificate covers the new requirements, or initiate a recertification process.

If it does not perform this verification and its product does not meet the new standards, it may face the retention of goods at the Norwegian border or an order to withdraw the product from the market, with the logistical and reputational costs that this entails.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you market products in the non-EU EEE: Review whether your company sells or exports to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. If so, this decision directly affects you.
2. Verify what technical legislation has been incorporated: Consult the full text of Decision 64/2026 in the EU Official Journal to identify which specific standards have been added to Annex II.
3. Review the technical documentation of your products: Check whether the declarations of conformity, certificates and technical documentation of your products cover the new requirements incorporated.
4. Contact your certification body: Consult whether your current certificates remain valid under the new standards or if you need to initiate an update or recertification process.
5. Update internal compliance processes: If your company has a technical compliance management system, incorporate Decision 64/2026 into the register of applicable regulations and schedule periodic reviews.
6. Inform the distribution chain: If you are a manufacturer, communicate to your importers and distributors in the EEE the relevant changes so they can comply with their own conformity obligations.

Official source

Consult 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_202601260