ESA publishes the 2024 overview report on food and veterinary controls in Iceland and Norway

The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today published its 2024 report on the overall operation of official controls in Iceland and Norway in the food and veterinary area. The report finds that the two States carry out controls to monitor and enforce EEA rules, while some recurring structural weaknesses in the control systems require continued follow-up.

Based on ESA 's control activities and the annual reports submitted by Iceland and Norway for 2024, ESA has confirmed that both States carried out official controls as planned and had, with a some exceptions, incorporated and applied the relevant EEA rules in the food and veterinary area.

The report notes a marked improvement in the information provided by Iceland and Norway in their annual reports on official controls carried out in 2024. However, gaps in data completeness and consistency between sectors continue to affect ESA 's overall assessment.

Official controls are carried out to ensure a high level of health protection and consumer trust in food and feed safety, animal health and welfare, plant protection products and organic production. National competent authorities in Iceland and Norway are responsible for these controls and for taking appropriate enforcement measures where non-compliance is identified.

ESA carries out its own controls to verify the application of EEA rules in Iceland and Norway and the effectiveness of their national control systems. When ESA identifies systemic shortcomings, it issues recommendations and follows up on corrective measures. Where the States fail to take appropriate measures, ESA can initiate infringement proceedings. The infringement actions taken by ESA in 2024 are listed in this report. ESA maintains an active dialogue with Iceland and Norway to support the continuous improvement of their official control systems.

Food and veterinary area in the EEA

EEA law sets high standards for food and feed safety, and for animal health and welfare. EEA citizens are entitled to know how the food they consume is produced, processed, packaged, labelled and sold. ESA is responsible for monitoring that Iceland and Norway comply with EEA rules in the food and veterinary area.

Consequently, ESA performs controls, including regular audits in both countries, while Liechtenstein is subject to a different surveillance system for food safety.

ESA's annual report on the overall operation of official controls in Iceland and Norway in 2024 can be found here .

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