Importing Food to Norway – Customs Clearance and Food Safety Requirements

Importing food to Norway requires more than a standard customs declaration.

Food importers must comply with both Norwegian customs regulations and food safety requirements administered by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet).

Depending on the product and its country of origin, the shipment may also require advance notification, certificates, TRACES registration or border control.

TollAgent AS assists businesses with customs clearance for food imported into Norway, including commodity classification, customs documentation and verification of the requirements applicable to the shipment.

What food products can be imported into Norway?

Norway imports a wide range of food and beverage products, including:

• meat and processed meat products,
• milk, cheese and other dairy products,
• bakery and confectionery products,
• pasta and cereals,
• fruit and vegetable products,
• oils and fats,
• fish and seafood,
• non-alcoholic beverages,
• alcoholic beverages,
• food supplements,
• and speciality food products.

The requirements depend heavily on what the product contains and where it comes from.

A shipment of biscuits from Poland, for example, may be subject to very different requirements from meat products arriving directly from a country outside the EU/EEA.

Registration with Mattilsynet

Businesses importing food and beverages commercially into Norway must be registered with Mattilsynet – the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

The importer must also register the first recipient (første mottaker) of the goods in Norway.

If the company operates its own warehouse, shop or online food business, additional registrations may also be necessary.

Registration as a food importer should therefore be completed before the first shipment arrives in Norway.

Importing food from the EU to Norway

Norway is not a member of the European Union, but through the EEA Agreement much of Norwegian food legislation is harmonised with EU food and veterinary legislation.

This makes an important difference between food imported from the EU/EEA and products imported directly from a third country.

For food arriving from an EU country, there is generally no advance notification requirement to Mattilsynet simply because the shipment is entering Norway.

However, the importer must still:

• be properly registered,
• ensure that the food complies with Norwegian regulations,
• comply with labelling requirements,
• carry out the required controls,
• and complete Norwegian customs clearance.

Import from the EU therefore still requires preparation even though sanitary procedures are generally simpler than for direct imports from third countries.

Importing food from countries outside the EU/EEA

Food imported directly from a third country can be subject to significantly stricter requirements.

Consignments arriving from outside the EU/EEA generally have to be notified in advance.

Depending on the product, notification is made through either:

• TRACES NT, or
• Mattilsynet’s own notification system.

Products of animal origin and certain high-risk products of non-animal origin may also have to enter Norway through an approved Border Control Post.

This is why food shipments from third countries should always be checked before transport is booked.

What is TRACES?

TRACES NT – Trade Control and Expert System is the EU’s electronic system used for sanitary and veterinary controls.

Norwegian businesses importing products that are subject to border control must also be registered in TRACES.

TRACES can be required for products such as certain:

• meat products,
• dairy products,
• fish and seafood,
• products containing ingredients of animal origin,
• high-risk food of non-animal origin,
• and organic products imported from third countries.

Whether TRACES applies depends on the exact product and country of origin.

Meat and dairy products

Meat and dairy products are among the more regulated food categories.

For direct imports from third countries, products of animal origin can require:

• health or veterinary certificates,
• advance notification in TRACES,
• entry through an approved Border Control Post,
• and official veterinary control.

Imports from EU/EEA countries are treated differently because of the harmonised veterinary framework.

However, customs duties can still apply to meat and dairy products imported from the EU.

Customs duty on food imported to Norway

Norway applies customs duties to many agricultural and food products.

The amount depends on factors including:

• commodity code,
• product composition,
• country of origin,
• preferential origin,
• and in some cases the time of year.

Agricultural tariffs can be substantial.

Some products may benefit from preferential tariff treatment or tariff quotas, provided that the applicable conditions are fulfilled.

Correct commodity classification is therefore particularly important when importing food to Norway.

A small difference in ingredients or product composition can sometimes result in a different tariff classification and customs duty.

VAT on food imported to Norway

Food and non-alcoholic beverages are generally subject to 15% Norwegian VAT.

Alcohol is subject to the ordinary 25% VAT rate and additional excise duties may apply.

Norwegian Customs also notes that some agricultural products can be subject to additional levies.

For VAT-registered Norwegian businesses, the accounting treatment of import VAT depends on the company’s VAT status and the nature of the import.

Food labelling requirements in Norway

The importer is responsible for ensuring that products placed on the Norwegian market comply with Norwegian food regulations.

This includes labelling.

Mattilsynet states that food must generally be labelled in Norwegian or a language sufficiently similar to Norwegian, normally Swedish or Danish.

Depending on the product, the label may need to contain information such as:

• product name,
• ingredients,
• allergens,
• net quantity,
• durability date,
• storage conditions,
• nutritional information,
• and information identifying the responsible food business operator.

Do not assume that packaging prepared for another European market automatically satisfies Norwegian requirements.

What documents are needed to import food to Norway?

For customs clearance, we normally require:

• commercial invoice,
• packing list,
• detailed product description,
• ingredients or product specification where relevant,
• quantity and weight,
• country of origin,
• commodity code if known,
• transport information,
• and details of the Norwegian importer.

Depending on the product, additional documents may include:

• veterinary or health certificate,
• TRACES documentation,
• certificate of analysis,
• proof of origin,
• organic documentation,
• licences or permits,
• and other certificates required by Mattilsynet.

For regulated products, these documents should be verified before the shipment leaves the supplier.

Example: importing Polish meat products to Norway

A Norwegian food importer purchases sausages and processed meat products from a producer in Poland.

Before the first shipment, the Norwegian importer must ensure that the business and first recipient are correctly registered with Mattilsynet.

The products are then classified under the appropriate commodity codes. Processed meat products may, for example, fall within headings 1601 or 1602, depending on their composition.

We check:

• product description and composition,
• commodity classification,
• country of origin,
• applicable customs duty,
• available preferential treatment or tariff arrangements,
• and the documentation required for customs clearance.

TollAgent AS then prepares the Norwegian import declaration.

Because Poland is within the EU/EEA food and veterinary framework, the sanitary procedure differs from a direct import of comparable products from a third country.

First recipient of food in Norway

The first recipient has an important role in Norwegian food imports.

The first recipient must perform the necessary controls when the goods arrive and ensure that the consignment complies with Norwegian food regulations.

The importer is responsible for ensuring that the first recipient is properly registered and understands these obligations.

For companies importing food regularly, this should be incorporated into their internal control procedures.

FAQ – Importing Food to Norway

Do I have to register before importing food to Norway?

Yes. Businesses importing food commercially must be registered as food importers with Mattilsynet. The first recipient of the goods must also be registered where required.

Do I need TRACES to import food from the EU?

Not for ordinary food imports simply because the products come from another EU/EEA country. TRACES is particularly relevant to products requiring border control and certain products imported from third countries.

Is there customs duty on food imported from the EU?

There can be. Norway maintains customs duties on many agricultural products even when they originate in the EU. Preferential rates or tariff quotas may apply to certain products.

What is the VAT rate on imported food?

Food and non-alcoholic beverages are generally subject to 15% Norwegian VAT. Alcohol is subject to 25% VAT as well as applicable excise duties.

Can I import Polish meat and dairy products to Norway?

Yes, provided that the importer, products and documentation comply with Norwegian requirements. Customs duties may apply even to products originating in Poland or another EU country.

Can TollAgent AS handle food customs clearance?

Yes. TollAgent AS can assist with commodity classification, customs documentation and Norwegian import customs clearance. Where sanitary requirements apply, we can help identify which documentation is required before customs clearance.

Importing food to Norway? Prepare the shipment before transport

Food imports are considerably easier when the requirements are checked before the goods leave the supplier.

A missing registration, incorrect commodity code or required sanitary document can delay a shipment and create additional costs.

TollAgent AS assists businesses importing food and beverages into Norway.

We provide:

Food customs clearance
Norwegian import declarations for food and beverages.

Commodity classification
Verification of tariff codes and applicable customs duties.

Document verification
Review of customs documents and identification of relevant sanitary requirements.

Digitoll
Digital customs information for transports entering Norway.

Regular import service
Customs clearance for businesses importing food to Norway on a recurring basis.

TollAgent AS – Customs Agency in Norway
Phone: +47 919 07 836
Email: post@tollagent.no
Organisation number: 934 390 652
Wessels gate 4, 0165 Oslo, Norway