Veterinary and phytosanitary standards EEA 2025: what changes for exporters

Key data

Spanish agrifood companies trading with EEA countries not belonging to the EU —Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein— must review their operations. The Decision 255/2025 of the EEA Joint Committee, adopted on December 5, 2025 and published on April 16, 2026, updates Annex I of the EEA Agreement on veterinary and phytosanitary matters, incorporating new EU legislation that these three countries must apply to maintain the homogeneity of the internal market.

The impact is not theoretical: it affects border controls, the certifications accompanying shipments and the traceability systems that companies must maintain. If your company exports or imports animal or plant products to or from these countries, this regulation is already in force.

What does this regulation establish?

The EEA Joint Committee is the body responsible for ensuring that Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein apply the same legislation as EU countries in matters covered by the EEA Agreement. When the EU approves new veterinary or phytosanitary legislation, the Joint Committee formally incorporates it into the Agreement through decisions such as this one.

Decision 255/2025 modifies Annex I of the EEA Agreement, which specifically regulates veterinary and phytosanitary matters. The changes incorporate new EU legislation in these areas, ensuring that the three EEA countries not belonging to the EU apply the same standards as the rest of the European internal market.

In practical terms, this means that:

• The health requirements applicable to animal and plant origin products circulating between Spain and these three countries are updated.
• The border controls carried out by the authorities of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are aligned with the new EU standards.
• The health certifications required may be modified depending on the new incorporated legislation.
• Traceability systems must comply with updated requirements.

Economic and operational impact

The direct economic impact of this decision is not quantified in concrete figures in the regulatory text, as it is a regulatory harmonization measure. However, the operational consequences for companies are real and can generate costs if action is not taken in time.

The main impact vectors are:

• Health certifications: If the new incorporated standards modify the required certificate models, companies will need to obtain updated documentation for each shipment. This involves coordination with the competent veterinary or phytosanitary authorities.
• Border controls: A change in requirements can result in merchandise being held or rejected at the border if the documentation does not adapt to the new standards. The cost of a hold —storage, reshipment, loss of perishable goods— can be significant.
• Traceability: Internal traceability systems must reflect the new requirements. This may require adaptations in management software or in labeling and record-keeping procedures.
• Inspections in Spain: The competent Spanish authorities already apply the updated standards in their official controls, so companies that have not adapted may face observations or incidents in domestic inspections.

Who does it affect?

This regulation directly affects:

• Companies exporting animal origin products (meat, dairy, fish, eggs and derivatives) to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Companies exporting plant origin products (fruits, vegetables, seeds, plants and plant material) to these three countries.
• Spanish importers of animal or plant products from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Logistics operators and customs agents managing the transit of these products.
• Competent Spanish authorities in animal and plant health matters, which must apply the new standards in their inspections and official controls.
• Advisors and consultants in foreign trade who advise agrifood sector companies with operations in the EEA.

Practical example

A Spanish meat products exporting company that makes regular shipments to Norway must verify whether the health certificates currently accompanying its shipments remain valid under the new standards incorporated into Annex I of the EEA Agreement by Decision 255/2025.

If the certificate models have been updated as part of the new EU legislation incorporated, the company will need to request the new certificates from the competent Spanish veterinary authority before its next shipment. A shipment arriving in Norway with outdated certification may be held at the corresponding Border Inspection Post, generating storage costs and, in the case of perishable goods, risk of total loss of merchandise.

Preventive action —reviewing documentation before shipment and confirming with the Norwegian importer that local requirements have not changed— is the most efficient way to avoid this risk.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you operate with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein: If your company exports or imports animal or plant origin products to or from these three countries, this regulation is already in force as of December 5, 2025 and you must act.
2. Review current health certifications: Check whether the certificates accompanying your current shipments remain valid under the new standards of Annex I of the EEA Agreement. Contact the competent veterinary or phytosanitary authority in your autonomous community to confirm.
3. Verify traceability requirements: Ensure that your traceability systems comply with updated requirements. If you have doubts, consult with your foreign trade advisor or with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
4. Contact your importer or distributor in the destination country: Confirm that border requirements have not changed for your specific products. Local importers usually have updated information about the controls applied by their authorities.
5. Review procedures for possible border controls: If your products are subject to controls at Border Inspection Posts, ensure that the documentation you present is aligned with the new standards to avoid holds.
6. Maintain active regulatory monitoring: This decision incorporates new EU legislation into the EEA Agreement, but it is not the only one. The EEA Joint Committee periodically updates its annexes. Establish an alert system to detect future modifications that may affect your operations.