New EEE Certification Standards 2026: What Exporting Companies Must Do

Key data

If your company sells, manufactures or imports products in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, this regulation directly affects you. The Decision 78/2026 of the EEA Joint Committee, adopted on 20 March 2026 and published on 25 June 2026, amends Annex II of the EEA Agreement, which regulates the technical regulations, standards, testing and certification applicable in the European Economic Area.

In practice, this means that new technical regulations approved in the EU now become mandatory in the three EEA countries that are not EU members. If your products already comply with EU requirements, you are likely covered, but you must verify this. If you have specific certification processes for these markets, check whether they have become outdated.

What does this regulation establish?

The EEA Agreement allows Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to participate in the European internal market without being EU members. To do this, the EEA Joint Committee periodically updates the annexes of the Agreement to incorporate EU legislation as it is approved.

Decision 78/2026 acts on Annex II, which specifically covers the field of technical regulations, standards, testing and certification. By amending this annex, the decision extends to the three EEA countries the new EU technical regulations that have been incorporated into the text.

The concrete effects are as follows:

• New EU technical regulations are integrated into the EEA legal framework.
• The conformity and certification requirements applicable in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are updated to reflect this new regulation.
• Companies that already had their products certified under the previous standards must check whether their technical documentation remains valid or requires updating.
• Non-compliance with the new requirements may create barriers to access to the EEA market.

The decision entered into force on 20 March 2026, the date of its adoption, although it was published in the Official Journal on 25 June 2026. This means that the adaptation period has already begun and, depending on the transitional periods established by the incorporated technical regulations, some obligations may already be enforceable.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this decision is not a fixed economic penalty, but the risk of losing access to the EEA market if products do not meet the new certification requirements. For companies with commercial presence in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, this can translate into:

• Recertification costs: If products must undergo new testing or conformity assessment procedures, costs will depend on the type of product and the notified body involved.
• Technical documentation updates: Review and updating of declarations of conformity, technical manuals and product files.
• Sales suspension: In the worst case scenario, products that do not meet the new requirements could be withdrawn from the market or blocked at customs until their situation is regularized.
• Technical and legal advisory costs: To determine what specific regulations have been incorporated and how they affect each product line.

The impact will be greater for companies with significant export volume to these three markets and for sectors with products subject to CE marking, product safety directives or specific technical regulations.

Who does it affect?

• Manufacturers that produce goods intended for Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and that are subject to CE marking requirements or technical certification.
• Importers and distributors that introduce products into the EEA market and are responsible for ensuring their conformity.
• Spanish and European exporters with customers in the three EEA countries not belonging to the EU.
• Quality and regulatory compliance managers (compliance officers, technical directors) of industrial, consumer or technology companies.
• Advisors and consultants who manage technical documentation and certification processes for their clients.
• Notified bodies and testing laboratories that provide certification services for the EEA market.

Practical example

Imagine a Spanish electrical equipment manufacturer that regularly exports to Norway. Until now, its products had CE marking and technical documentation in order in accordance with the EU regulations in force at the time of certification.

With the entry into force of Decision 78/2026, new EU technical regulations now also apply in Norway through Annex II of the EEA Agreement. The quality manager of this company must:

1. Identify what specific technical regulations have been incorporated into Annex II through this decision.
2. Check whether that regulation affects any of its products or product families.
3. Verify whether the current technical documentation (declaration of conformity, technical file) remains valid or must be updated.
4. If new testing is required, contact the corresponding notified body to plan the process.

If the company does not carry out this verification and its products do not meet the new requirements, it could face problems at Norwegian customs or claims from its local distributors, with the resulting economic and reputational cost.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you have products in the markets of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein: If you do not market in these countries, this decision does not directly affect you.
2. Consult the full text of Decision 78/2026: Access the official source on EUR-Lex to identify what specific technical regulations have been incorporated into Annex II.
3. Review your conformity assessment procedures: Check whether current procedures remain valid under the new incorporated regulations.
4. Update technical documentation if necessary: Declarations of conformity, technical files and manuals must reflect the current regulations.
5. Contact your notified body or technical advisor: If there are doubts about whether your products require new testing or certifications, consult with an expert before non-compliance creates business problems.
6. Inform your distributors in the EEA: Make sure your business partners in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are aware of the changes and that the documentation you provide them is up to date.

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_202601319