Technical certification in the EEA 2026: what changes for manufacturers and importers

Key data

If your company manufactures, imports or distributes products that require technical certification to circulate in the European market, this decision directly affects you. The Decision No. 70/2026 of the EEA Joint Committee modifies the Annex II of the EEA Agreement, which regulates the technical regulations, standards, testing and certification applicable throughout the European Economic Area. The change entered into force on March 20, 2026, although it was published in the Official Journal on June 25, 2026.

The objective of this update is to incorporate new EU technical standards into the scope of the EEA, ensuring that certification rules are uniform among the 27 EU member states and the three non-EU EEA countries: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. In practice, this means that any company operating in cross-border markets within the EEA must check whether the technical standards supporting its product certification remain current.

What does this regulation establish?

The Annex II of the EEA Agreement is the framework that regulates how technical regulations, testing procedures and certification systems are applied in EEA countries that are not EU members. When the EU updates its technical standards, the EEA Joint Committee must adopt a decision to incorporate those changes into the EEA Agreement, so that Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein apply the same rules as EU member states.

This Decision No. 70/2026 does exactly that: it introduces into Annex II the new EU technical standards that have been recently approved, ensuring regulatory homogeneity throughout the EEA. Companies that already had their products certified under the previous standards must verify whether that certification remains valid or whether it is necessary to update the conformity documentation.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this decision is not a fixed economic penalty, but a risk of commercial blockade: if a company's products do not comply with the updated technical standards, they may be excluded from the EEA market. This particularly affects companies that:

• Export products to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein under the EEA Agreement framework.
• Import products from these countries into the EU with certifications issued under the previous standards.
• Distribute products in cross-border markets within the EEA and depend on regulatory equivalence to avoid double certifications.

The actual operational cost depends on each company: if the existing certification remains valid under the new standards, the impact is minimal. If it is necessary to update tests, technical documentation or conformity declarations, the cost can be significant in terms of time and resources, especially for SMEs with large product portfolios.

The regulatory homogeneity that this decision seeks also has a positive side: it facilitates access to the EEA market for companies that already comply with EU technical standards, by avoiding additional requirements in non-EU EEA countries.

Who does it affect?

• Manufacturers of products subject to technical certification that market in the EEA (including Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein).
• Importers that introduce into the EU market products from non-EU EEA countries.
• Distributors that operate in cross-border markets within the EEA and depend on the equivalence of certifications.
• Compliance and quality managers in industrial, technological, medical equipment, machinery, construction products companies or any sector with CE marking or other technical certifications.
• Advisors and consultants who manage technical product compliance for clients with presence in the EEA.

Practical example

A Spanish industrial machinery manufacturer has its products certified under EU technical standards and regularly exports them to Norway, which is part of the EEA but not the EU. Until now, the certification obtained in Spain was directly valid in Norway thanks to the EEA Agreement.

With the entry into force of Decision No. 70/2026 on March 20, 2026, Annex II of the EEA Agreement has been updated to incorporate new EU technical standards. If any of the technical standards on which the certification of that machinery is based has been modified or replaced, the company must review whether its declaration of conformity remains valid or whether it needs to update the tests and technical documentation before continuing to market in Norway. Failure to do so may result in the product being rejected at customs or withdrawn from the Norwegian market.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify affected products: Review the catalog of products marketed in the EEA (especially in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) that are subject to technical certification under Annex II of the EEA Agreement.
2. Verify the validity of current certifications: Check whether the technical standards on which current certifications are based have been modified or replaced by the new standards incorporated through this Decision.
3. Contact the notified body or certification organization: Consult with the organization that issued the certification to determine whether it is necessary to update tests, technical reports or conformity declarations.
4. Update technical documentation: If relevant changes are detected, update the conformity documentation before continuing with marketing in the affected EEA countries.
5. Establish a regulatory monitoring system: Implement an internal process to detect future updates to Annex II of the EEA Agreement and avoid situations of subsequent non-compliance.

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_202601264