Veterinary and phytosanitary rules EEE 2025: what agri-food companies must do

Key data

If your company exports or imports agri-food, livestock or phytosanitary products with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, this regulation is already in force and may directly affect your operations. The Decision 260/2025 of the EEA Joint Committee, published on 16 April 2026 but effective from 5 December 2025, updates Annex I of the EEA Agreement on veterinary and phytosanitary matters. The objective is for these three countries to apply exactly the same health rules as EU Member States.

The practical result: if you previously operated under a regulatory framework that was not fully aligned with the most recent European regulation, that framework has now been updated. The requirements are the same on both sides.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 260/2025 amends Annex I of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, which regulates veterinary and phytosanitary matters between the EU and EEA countries that are not EU members: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The amendment incorporates current European regulation into the EEA legal framework. This means that the health regulation applicable in these three countries is updated and harmonised with that of EU Member States. The three areas affected are:

• Health certifications: the documents accompanying animals and animal or plant products may require adaptations to comply with new models or requirements.
• Border controls: inspection procedures at entry points may have changed depending on the regulation incorporated.
• Traceability requirements: the identification and tracking of animals, animal and plant products must be adjusted to updated requirements.

The regulation does not establish a specific transitional regime in the available data: entry into force was 5 December 2025.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not tariff-related and does not involve new direct charges on operations. The real cost to companies is operational and compliance-related: reviewing, updating and, if necessary, renewing certifications, adapting internal traceability processes and ensuring that border controls do not create friction in supply chains.

The concrete economic risks arising from non-compliance include:

• Rejection of goods in border controls between the EU and EEA countries.
• Storage or return costs for blocked shipments.
• Loss of temporary or permanent access to markets in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Review and possible renewal of health certifications, with associated administrative and time costs.

For companies with frequent or high-volume operations with these countries, the impact can be significant if action is not taken quickly, given that the regulation has been in force since December 2025.

Who does it affect?

• Agri-food exporters sending live animals, meat products, dairy, eggs, fish or other animal products to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Importers bringing animals, animal products or plant products from those three countries into the EU.
• Livestock companies with cross-border operations or participating in supply chains crossing the EEA.
• Phytosanitary sector operators trading in vegetables, seeds, plants or plant products with EEA countries.
• Advisors, customs brokers and compliance officers managing health documentation for these operations.
• CFOs and operations directors in companies with supply chains including Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Practical example

A Spanish meat product exporting company that makes regular shipments to Norway must verify that its health certificates comply with the updated models and requirements that Decision 260/2025 has incorporated into the EEA framework.

If that company works with a certificate model that corresponded to European regulation prior to the update, that document may not be accepted in Norwegian border controls. The practical result would be the blocking of the shipment, with associated storage and management costs, plus the time needed to obtain the correct certification.

The immediate step in this case is to contact the competent authority (in Spain, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) to confirm whether the certification models used are aligned with the regulation incorporated into the EEA, and to review with the logistics operator whether border controls at destination have introduced new documentary requirements.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you operate with EEA countries: confirm whether your company exports or imports animals, animal or plant products with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. If so, this regulation directly affects you.
2. Review health certifications in use: verify with your competent authority (MAPA in Spain or the corresponding regional authority) whether current certificates are aligned with the updated requirements of Annex I of the EEA Agreement.
3. Audit traceability procedures: review that identification and tracking systems for animals, animal and plant products comply with updated requirements.
4. Consult with the logistics operator or customs broker: verify whether border controls at entry points in EEA countries have introduced new documentary or inspection requirements.
5. Update internal procedures: if deviations are detected, update operational processes and train staff responsible for health documentation before the next shipment or receipt.