EEE Veterinary and Phytosanitary Standards 2026: what changes for exporters

Key data

Companies operating in the European Economic Area with agri-food, livestock or plant-origin products have new health obligations as of February 6, 2026. The Decision 7/2026 of the EEE Joint Committee amends Annex I of the EEE Agreement, which specifically regulates veterinary and phytosanitary matters applicable in the common area formed by the EU and the three EEE countries not belonging to the Union: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The decision was adopted on February 6, 2026 and published in the Official Journal on May 21, 2026. This means the obligation is already enforceable: if your company trades with any of these three countries and has not reviewed your procedures, you may be operating outside the new requirements.

What does this regulation establish?

The EEE Joint Committee is the body responsible for ensuring that EU regulations are applied uniformly also in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. When the EU approves new legislation on animal or plant health, the Joint Committee must formally incorporate it into the EEE Agreement through a specific decision.

Decision 7/2026 does exactly that: it updates the Annex I of the EEE Agreement, which is the annex dedicated to veterinary and phytosanitary matters, to incorporate EU regulations in these areas. The practical effects include:

• New animal health requirements applicable to trade with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
• New plant health requirements for products of plant origin marketed in the EEE.
• Possible changes in health controls at borders between EEE countries.
• Modifications in the certifications required for the import and export of affected products.
• Update of market access conditions for operators trading with the three EEE countries outside the EU.

To learn about the specific EU regulations incorporated through this decision, it is necessary to consult the full text available on EUR-Lex (OJ:L_202600960).

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this decision is not uniform: it depends on the type of product you trade, the EEE country you operate with and whether you already had updated certifications. The main impact vectors are:

• Certification costs: If the new requirements require additional or updated health certificates, your company will have to bear the costs of obtaining them before each operation.
• Border delays: Strengthened or modified health controls may generate additional waiting times at entry points in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, with the resulting impact on the supply chain.
• Goods rejection: Non-compliance with the new requirements may result in the rejection of shipments at the border, with direct loss of goods value and return or destruction costs.
• Contract review: If your supply contracts with customers in these countries do not contemplate the new health requirements, it may be necessary to renegotiate conditions or delivery schedules.

Compliance is mandatory for all operators trading with EEE countries outside the EU. This is not a recommendation: it is a legal requirement enforceable from February 6, 2026.

Who does it affect?

This regulation directly affects the following business profiles:

• Exporting companies of products of animal origin (meat, dairy, eggs, fish, processed products) to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Importing companies of products of animal or plant origin from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Agri-food companies that use raw materials or ingredients from these three countries in their production processes.
• Livestock farms that export live animals or animal genetic material to the non-EU EEE.
• Plant sector operators (fruits, vegetables, seeds, plants) that trade with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
• Customs agents and logistics operators that manage the transit of goods of animal or plant origin in the EEE.
• Advisors and consultants that provide services to companies with operations in the EEE.

Practical example

A Spanish exporting company of processed meat products that makes regular shipments to distributors in Norway must verify whether the health certificates accompanying its shipments comply with the new requirements incorporated by Decision 7/2026.

If the EU regulation incorporated into Annex I of the EEE Agreement introduces new veterinary certificate models or new traceability requirements, certificates issued under the previous format may be rejected at the Norwegian border control point. This would imply the retention of the goods, storage costs at the border and, in the worst case, return or destruction of the shipment.

To avoid this, this company must: review the full text of Decision 7/2026, identify which EU regulations have been incorporated, check whether its current certificates comply with the new models and, if necessary, update its procedures with its official veterinarian or competent authority before the next shipment.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you operate with Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein: If you export or import products of animal or plant origin with any of these three countries, this regulation directly affects you and you must act.
2. Consult the full text of Decision 7/2026: Access the official text on EUR-Lex (OJ:L_202600960) to identify which EU regulations are incorporated and which affect your specific products.
3. Review your current health certifications: Check whether the veterinary or phytosanitary certificates you use in your operations with the EEE remain valid under the new requirements.
4. Contact the competent authority: If you detect changes that affect your certifications, contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the official veterinary authority of your autonomous community to obtain the new updated models or requirements.
5. Inform your logistics operator and customs agent: Make sure that those who manage the transit of your goods know the new requirements to avoid border detentions.
6. Review contracts with customers and suppliers in the EEE: If the new requirements imply changes in deadlines, documentation or delivery conditions, update the affected contracts or commercial agreements.