New EEE certification standards 2026: what manufacturers and importers must review

Key data

If your company manufactures, imports or distributes products subject to technical standards and operates in the European Economic Area, this decision affects you directly. Decision No. 65/2026 of the EEE Joint Committee, adopted on 20 March 2026 and published on 25 June 2026, amends Annex II of the EEE Agreement, which regulates the technical regulations, standards, testing and certification applicable throughout the enlarged internal market.

The objective is to ensure regulatory homogeneity between the 27 EU member states and the three non-EU EEE countries: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. When the EU updates its technical standards, the EEE Joint Committee adopts decisions like this one to incorporate them into the EEE Agreement and maintain regulatory equivalence throughout the market.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 65/2026 amends Annex II of the EEE Agreement, which is the annex specifically dedicated to technical regulations, standards, testing and certification. This mechanism is the usual way for EEE countries not belonging to the EU to adopt European technical standards and participate in the internal market on equal terms.

In practical terms, the decision incorporates into the EEE legal framework new EU technical standards that were already in force in EU member states. This means that:

• Updated technical requirements become mandatory also in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
• Companies that already complied with EU standards in their products do not need additional changes for the three non-EU EEE countries, provided their certification is properly documented.
• Companies operating with earlier standards or certifications that do not reflect the latest EU updates must review their compliance status.
• Non-compliance with updated standards can result in market access barriers or sanctions in EEE countries.

Economic and operational impact

The economic impact of this decision depends directly on whether your company's products already comply with the EU technical standards being incorporated into the EEE. There are two main scenarios:

The main risk is not the cost of adaptation itself, but the consequences of inaction: products held at the border, market withdrawal, loss of contracts with local distributors or administrative sanctions in EEE countries.

Who does it affect?

• Manufacturers of products subject to technical regulations that market in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Importers who introduce products into the EEE market and are responsible for technical compliance.
• Distributors operating in the supply chain within the EEE and must ensure that the products they market comply with current standards.
• Compliance and quality departments of industrial, technology, medical equipment, machinery, electrical and electronic products companies, and any sector subject to CE marking or harmonized technical standards.
• Foreign trade advisors and consultants managing operations to non-EU EEE countries.

Practical example

A Spanish industrial machinery manufacturer regularly exports to Norway. Its products bear CE marking and certification in accordance with current EU standards through 2025. Following Decision 65/2026, the new EU technical standards incorporated into Annex II of the EEE Agreement become mandatory also in Norway.

If the company has already updated its certifications in accordance with the most recent EU standards, it does not need any additional action to continue exporting to Norway: the regulatory homogeneity of the EEE ensures that its certification is valid.

However, if the company operates with a certification based on an earlier version of the technical standard—which the EU had already updated before this decision—it will need to initiate a recertification process with a notified body, with the costs of testing and technical documentation that this entails, before Norwegian authorities can require compliance with the new requirements.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify the EEE markets where your company operates: determine whether you market products in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, either directly or through local distributors.
2. Review the status of current technical certifications: verify that your products' certifications and declarations of conformity reflect the most updated EU standards, not earlier versions already superseded.
3. Consult the full text of Decision 65/2026: access the official regulation on EUR-Lex to identify exactly what EU technical standards are incorporated into Annex II of the EEE and whether they affect your sector or product type.
4. Coordinate with the quality department or notified body: if deviations from the new requirements are detected, initiate the testing and certification update process without delay.
5. Update technical documentation and declarations of conformity: ensure that all documentation accompanying the product in the EEE market reflects the standards in force following Decision 65/2026.
6. Alert distributors and business partners in the EEE: inform your partners in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein about the compliance status of products to avoid problems at customs or market inspections.

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_202601262