I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM
RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)
II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION
A. Chemical residue standards:
Food safety is an important issue in Norway which
follows EU directives. Where there are no
established MRLs, Norway defers to Codex.
B. Monitoring chemical residues:
The Norwegian Food Control Authority
(Mattilsynet) has centralized authority over food/residue inspection.
C. Restrictions on use of waxes:
Allowable waxes are beeswax, candelilla, carnauba and
shellac.
III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS
Norway follows EU regulations
regarding organic products.
Imports
from the U.S. are approved on a shipment by shipment basis.
Mattilsynet
has authorized the private organization DEBIO to carry out the
control of organic products, both domestically produced and
imported. Currently, DEBIO's label is the standard for
approved organic products in Norway. Please contact your
importer for specifics regarding the DEBIO rules and procedures.
IV. TARIFFS
Apples:
Tariff
Period NOK
* per kilo
May
1-Nov 30
4.83
Dec
1-June 30
0.03
Cherries:
All
year
5.57
Pears:
Aug
11-Nov 30
4.41
Dec
1-Aug 10
0.02
*Norwegian Kroner
V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
A. Labeling requirements:
Norway applies the EU's labeling
directives. Please refer to the NHC's EU export manual
section.
B. Seasonal restrictions:
The Ministry of Agriculture has implemented an administrative
system which enables them to open and close the market as
needed, by temporarily lowering import duties below the bound
tariff rate. This means that the market is not very predictable
and hard for suppliers far from the market to penetrate. It is
therefore recommended that exporters contact their Norwegian
importers before shipping.
C. Licenses and quotas:
For apples, a quota of 8,000 MT has been established to be
divided as follows:
May 1 - Jul 30: 7,000 MT
Aug 1 - Nov 30: 750 MT
Nov 1 - Nov 30: 250 MT
The in-quota tariff rate for apples is NOK 0.03 per kilo. The
quota is to be allocated generally to importers based upon their
import history as averaged over the three preceding years. For
pears, a quota of 250 MT has been established for August 11 -
November 30. No quota has been established for cherries.
D. Currency Issues:
None
E. Pest and plant disease restrictions:
A phytosanitary certificate is required.
Norway has a zero tolerance for live or dead Rhagoletis
pomonella (apple maggot) and Quadraspidiotus perniciosus
(San Jose scale). If either of these organisms is found in a
shipment, it will be denied entry. Produce may reinspected after
entry and, if pests are found, the produce must be reexported or
destroyed.
VI. SUBSIDIES
None.
VII. MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC
NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY
Pear Bureau Northwest:
Andrew Brown
Surrey, ENGLAND
Voice: 011-44-1-483-416136
Fax: 011-44-1-483-426662
E-mail: 106624.3376@compuserve.com
VII. OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:
Governmental:
U.S.:
Europe:
VIII. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Norway is a member of the European Free Trade
Association (EFTA). EFTA is responsible for ensuring that
Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein adhere to the uniform
implementation and application of common rules in all European
Economic Area and European Community states.
