New EEE veterinary and phytosanitary standards 2026: what agrifood exporters must do

Key data

If your company exports food, livestock products or vegetables to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, this regulation affects you directly and is already in force. The Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No. 63/2026, of 20 March 2026, updates Annex I of the EEA Agreement—the chapter dedicated to veterinary and phytosanitary matters—to incorporate current European legislation into the regulatory framework of these three non-EU countries.

The objective is to ensure that the rules of the game are identical throughout the European Economic Area. But for commercial operators, this means one concrete thing: the animal and plant health requirements that you already comply with to sell within the EU are now also required—with the same rigor—in the border controls of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

What does this regulation establish?

The EEA Agreement allows Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to participate in the European single market without being EU members. For this to work, these countries must adopt relevant European legislation in their national legal systems. The EEA Joint Committee is the body responsible for periodically updating the annexes of the Agreement to incorporate new European legislation.

This Decision modifies Annex I of the EEA Agreement, which specifically regulates veterinary and phytosanitary matters. With this update:

• Current European legislation on animal health is incorporated into the EEA regulatory framework.
• Current European legislation on plant health is incorporated into the EEA regulatory framework.
• Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are obliged to apply the same health rules as EU Member States.
• Homogeneity of controls is guaranteed throughout the European Economic Area for animal and plant products.

In practical terms, if the EU has approved new health requirements for the import or marketing of animal or plant products, those same requirements are now also enforceable in the three non-EU EEA countries.

Economic and operational impact

The main impact is not direct cost, but operational and commercial risk. Companies that do not update their health compliance documentation and processes are exposed to two concrete consequences:

• Border rejections: Batches of animal or plant products that do not meet the new standards may be returned or destroyed at the border control points of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Trade barriers: Lack of updated health certification or documentation can block commercial operations with distributors, importers or customers in these countries.

The indirect cost of a border rejection includes return transport or destruction of goods, loss of the order, possible contractual penalties with the buyer and reputational damage to the customer. For regular exporters to these markets, preventive compliance review is significantly cheaper than managing a rejection.

Furthermore, since the entry into force is 20 March 2026—prior to the official publication date of 25 June 2026—companies must verify whether their operations carried out between March and June 2026 were already subject to these requirements.

Who does it affect?

• Exporters of animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, fish, derived products) destined for Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Exporters of plant products (fruits, vegetables, cereals, plants, seeds) destined for these three EEA countries.
• Agrifood companies that distribute in the EEA market and need to standardize their health certifications.
• Livestock operators that export live animals or animal by-products.
• Importers in Spain that receive products from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, since these countries must also comply with the same standards in their exports.
• Foreign trade advisors and consultants that manage operations with the non-EU EEA.

Practical example

A Spanish Iberian ham producer company that regularly exports to Norway must verify the following as a result of this Decision:

If the EU has approved new health certification requirements for processed meat products—for example, new traceability requirements, new veterinary certificates or new animal welfare controls at origin—those same requirements are now enforceable by Norwegian authorities at the border, exactly as if the destination were Germany or France.

If this company has not updated its health documentation in accordance with the most recent European legislation incorporated into Annex I of the EEA Agreement, its next shipment to Oslo may be retained or rejected at the Norwegian border control. Preventive review with its official veterinarian or foreign trade advisor—before the next shipment—is the priority action.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you export to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein: If you have active or planned operations with these three countries, this regulation applies to you from 20 March 2026.
2. Review current health documentation: Verify with your official veterinarian or quality manager that the health certificates of your products (animal or plant) are aligned with the most recent European legislation.
3. Consult the updated Annex I of the EEA Agreement: Access the official source on EUR-Lex to identify what specific legislation has been incorporated and whether it affects your product categories.
4. Contact the health authorities of the destination country: If you have doubts about specific requirements, consult directly with the veterinary or phytosanitary authority of Norway (Mattilsynet), Iceland (MAST) or Liechtenstein before the next shipment.
5. Review operations carried out since March 2026: Since entry into force is prior to publication, verify if any operation between March and June 2026 could have been subject to these requirements and whether it is necessary to regularize documentation.
6. Update internal procedures: If the review detects necessary changes, update your quality control and export procedures so that all future shipments comply with the new standards from the outset.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: 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_202601258