New veterinary and phytosanitary requirements in the EEA: what exporters and importers must do in 2026

Key data

If your company exports or imports products of animal or plant origin to or from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, this regulation affects you from 5 June 2026. Decision 161/2026 of the EEA Joint Committee amends Annex I of the EEA Agreement—which regulates all veterinary and phytosanitary matters—to incorporate new European animal and plant health legislation into the scope of the European Economic Area.

The practical result: the three EEA countries that are not EU members (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) are obliged to apply the same health standards that govern the European single market. For Spanish companies operating in these markets, this means that the controls to which their products are subject change, and procedures that are not aligned with the new requirements may cause border rejections.

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, the EEA Joint Committee periodically updates the annexes of the Agreement to incorporate the latest European legislation. Annex I is the one covering veterinary and phytosanitary matters.

With Decision 161/2026, the latest European standards approved in the following areas are incorporated into the EEA Agreement:

• Animal health: health requirements applicable to live animals and products of animal origin intended for trade or import.
• Plant health: phytosanitary conditions for products of plant origin, including controls to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful organisms.

The modification of Annex I means that the three non-EU EEA countries must adapt their national legislation to reflect these new standards. For practical purposes, companies trading with these countries must ensure that their health documentation, control procedures and certifications comply with the new requirements incorporated.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not of a direct sanctioning type with quantified fines in this decision, but the economic consequences of non-compliance are very concrete:

• Border control rejections: a shipment rejected at the border means the full cost of transport, immobilized goods and, in many cases, their destruction or return.
• Trade restrictions: repeated non-compliance may result in temporary suspension of access to the market of the corresponding EEA country.
• Adaptation costs: review of internal procedures, updating of health documentation and, in some cases, new certifications or audits.
• Competitive opportunity: companies that adapt before their competitors maintain uninterrupted access to the Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein markets.

Norway is by far the most relevant market of the three: it is one of the main importers of European agri-food products, especially in sectors such as meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables, and animal feed. Spanish exporting companies with a presence in that market should pay special attention.

Who does it affect?

• Exporters of products of animal origin: meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, honey and derivatives destined for Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Exporters of products of plant origin: fruits, vegetables, cereals, plants, seeds and other phytosanitarily regulated products.
• Importers from non-EU EEA countries: companies that bring animal or plant products from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein to the Spanish or European market.
• Livestock companies: farms that trade in live animals or genetic material (semen, embryos) with these countries.
• Logistics operators and customs agents: who manage health documentation for shipments between the EU and EEA countries.
• Animal feed and nutrition industry: manufacturers and distributors that export products intended for animal feed.

Practical example

A Spanish meat company that regularly exports processed pork products to Norway operates under the health requirements of the EEA Agreement. With the entry into force of Decision 161/2026 on 5 June 2026, Norway is obliged to apply the new European animal health standards incorporated into Annex I.

If the health certificates accompanying this company's shipments refer to European regulations that have been updated or replaced by the provisions incorporated in this decision, the Norwegian border control may detect a documentary discrepancy and retain or reject the shipment. To avoid this, the company must verify with its official veterinarian or with the competent authority that the certificate models it uses are updated in accordance with the new requirements of the modified Annex I.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you operate with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein: review your customer and supplier portfolio. If you have operations with these three countries in animal or plant products, this regulation directly affects you.
2. Review current health documentation: verify that the health certificates, establishment records and traceability documentation you use are aligned with the new requirements of Annex I of the EEA Agreement.
3. Consult with your official veterinarian or competent authority: in Spain, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the autonomous communities are the competent authorities in animal and plant health. Request confirmation that your procedures are valid under the new standards.
4. Update internal procedures: if discrepancies are detected, update the shipment preparation protocols, certificate models and health control records before making new shipments.
5. Inform your logistics operator or customs agent: ensure that whoever manages documentation at the border knows about the changes and works with updated models.
6. Monitor future updates to Annex I: the EEA Joint Committee periodically updates this annex. Establish an alert system so you don't miss future modifications.

Official source

Consult full 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_202601984