General Standards
Norway’s prosperity and economic growth are dependent on good framework conditions for trade with other countries. Norway exports goods and services, such as fish and fish products, oil and gas, technical and maritime services, to all corners of the world. Norway is a founding member of GATT (WTO) and is integrated in the European Common Market through the EEA Agreement.
WTO and EFTA
Norway’s trade is regulated by a number of agreements and rules (the European Economic Area, the European Free Trade Agreement) and its free trade agreements with third countries and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The extensive trade with other countries has been a key driver for Norway’s economic development. A significant part of Norwegian businesses are oriented towards exports, drawing benefits from recognized and predictable rules for trade across borders.
Standards Organizations
The trade standards setting in Norway is a process based on consensus initiated by industry or mandated by the European Commission and carried out by independent standards bodies, acting at the national, European or international level. There is strong encouragement for non-governmental organizations, such as environmental and consumer groups, to actively participate in European standardization.
Many standards in Norway are adopted from international standards bodies such as the International Standards Organization (ISO). The drafting of specific EU standards is handled by three European standards organizations:
1. CENELEC, European Committee for Electro technical Standardization: http://www.cenelec.eu/
2. ETSI, European Telecommunications Standards Institute: http://www.etsi.org/
3. CEN, European Committee for Standardization, handling all other standards: http://www.cen.eu/cen/pages/default.aspx
Trade Tariffs
The trade process in Norway is regulated by a number of agreements and rules, such as the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement and World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. They set out the conditions for selling goods and services, including what tariffs and duties are to be included in the price paid by the consumer in Norway.
The European Community has created the Binding Tariff Information (BTI) system as a tool to obtain the correct tariff classification for goods for import or export. Before shipping any goods, every manufacturer, seller or buyer has to consult the Norwegian Customs rules http://www.toll.no/en/.
The trade with agriculture products, food and fish is regulated in separate agreements within the European Economic Space (EES) treaty.
Product Labelling and Packaging
Through the EES treaty, Norway is a part of the EU single market and is included in the EU laws regarding products such as:
- toys;
- machinery;
- medical technology products;
- pharmaceuticals.
To reduce the impact on the environment, the EU has required legislation concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste.
The packing must conform to European legislation on the prevention of health risks to consumers and the protection of the environment, especially as regards waste treatment. Packaging in wood or vegetable matter must be subjected to a phytosanitary inspection.
Labeling of the products have to contain the consumption age for alcohol, colorants, standards, etc. In addition to EU's mandatory and voluntary schemes, there has to be indicated the national voluntary labeling schemes, often appreciated by consumers.
The European legislation provides the special labeling rules for certain products such as food, household appliances, sportswear, textiles, etc. Cigarettes, electrical products, drugs, pharmaceutical and cosmetics, fertilizers and fungicides, firearms, motor vehicles, tires and tubes are subject to specific regulations.
Packaged food must carry a statement identifying either:
1. the country where the food was made, produced or grown;
2. the country where the food was manufactured or packaged and that the food is a mix of ingredients imported into that country or a mix of local and imported ingredients.
Country of origin labeling applies to unpacked fresh and processed fruit, vegetables, nuts, spices, herbs, legumes, seeds, fish (including shellfish) and meat (pork, beef, sheep and chicken).
For example, the following unpacked foods are required to have country of origin labeling:
1. fresh and sun-dried tomatoes;
2. processed ham and bacon;
3. fresh and smoked fish fillets, and crumbed fish fillets;
4. fresh apples and dried apples;
5. chicken, pork, beef and lamb.
Commercial Invoice
No prescribed form and a minimum of two copies are required. The invoice must include:
- the name and address of seller (supplier) and consignee;
- the date of the invoice and purchase;
- the number, type and gross weight of packages;
- the kind and quality of goods;
- an invoice price for each item (showing freight and insurance separately);
- discounts and rebates;
- conditions of payment;
- terms of sale and delivery;
- the date the invoice was prepared and the contract signed.
Many importers are authorised to use a Simplified Declaration Procedure (Immediate Release System) and may have special requirements about the presentation of invoice data. Veterinary certificates and/or plant protection certificates are required for agricultural products and foodstuffs.
Product Certification
In order to sell products on the Norway market, all the international importers and exporters are required to apply CE marking whenever their product is covered by specific product legislation. CE marking product legislation offers manufacturers a number of choices and requires decisions to determine which safety/health concerns need to be addressed, which conformity assessment module is best suited to the manufacturing process, and whether or not to use EU-wide harmonized standards.
The CE mark is primarily for the benefit of the national control authorities, and its use simplifies the task of essential market surveillance of regulated products.
The CE marking is not intended to include detailed technical information on the product, but there must be enough information to enable the inspector to trace the product back to the manufacturer or the authorized EU representative. This detailed information should not appear next to the CE marking, but rather on the declaration of conformity (which the manufacturer or authorized agent must be able to provide at any time, together with the product's technical file), or the documents accompanying the product.
Contacts
National Institute of Standards & Technology
George W. Arnold, Director
Standards Coordination Office
100 Bureau Dr., Mail Stop 2100
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899
Tel: (301) 975-5627
Website: http://ts.nist.gov/Standards/Global/about.cfm
CEN – European Committee for Standardization
Avenue Marnix 17
B – 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 011 (32) 2.550.08.11
Website: http://www.cen.eu
CENELEC – European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Avenue Marnix 17
B – 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 011 (32) 2.519.68.71
Website: http://www.cenelec.eu
