ESA asks Iceland to comply with EEA rules for movement within the internal market of meat from third countries

The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today opened infringement proceedings against Iceland for failing to comply with rules governing the movement between EEA States of animal products originating in third countries.

Under Icelandic rules, certain animal products that have been imported into the EEA are subjected to additional requirements before they can be moved to Iceland, despite having fulfilled all EEA import requirements. The additional Icelandic requirements include obtaining a prior authorisation and providing proof that fresh or raw meat has been frozen for at least 30 days before arrival in Iceland.

ESA was made aware of the Icelandic rules in April 2023, following media reports that Ukrainian poultry meat was being moved to Iceland from the Netherlands without meeting these additional Icelandic requirements. Following this, ESA notified the Icelandic government that it would launch an investigation into Icelandic rules for the movement within the EEA of animal products originating in third countries.

The EEA Agreement aims to guarantee a high level of health protection and consumer interest while providing for the fullest possible realisation of the free movement of goods. In line with that aim, the EEA legal framework exhaustively harmonises the conditions for the import, movement, and handling of animal products from third countries after entry. This harmonised system is based on the principle that controls take place in the EEA State where the products first enter the internal market and before they are released for circulation. The objective and effectiveness of this system could not be achieved if the EEA States were free to go beyond their requirements by maintaining or adopting national measures other than those expressly provided for in the harmonised EEA rules.

ESA considers Iceland's system of prior authorisations and freezing of fresh and raw meat to be incompatible with the EEA rules, which do not allow a State to impose additional conditions once a product has legally entered the internal market.

A letter of formal notice is the first step in an infringement procedure against an EEA EFTA State. Iceland now has two months to express its views before ESA decides whether to take the case further.

Read ESA´s decision here .

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