EU and Norway agree on seafood market access

The agreement on better market access for Norwegian seafood was negotiated in parallel with the negotiations on Norway’s contribution to the EEA and Norway Grants. Under the new agreement, Norway will provide around €388m a year to 15 of the least prosperous countries in the EU. The current agreement covers the period 2014–2021. The increase in funding compared to the agreement from 2009 is more or less in line with inflation.

“I am very pleased that we have now achieved better market access for Norwegian seafood. The EU is our most important market, and the new tariff free quotas that have been agreed on are very important for the Norwegian seafood industry,’ added Elisabeth Aspaker, Minister of Fisheries.

The agreement will see new tariff-free quotas for fileted and processed products such as frozen mackerel and fresh herring, a 50 % increase in the current quota for different types of spiced and/or vinegar cured herring, and an extension of the agreement period from five to seven years.

“All in all the agreement ensures greater predictability for the seafood industry. This will also benefit the seafood industry in the EU, which relies on stable supplies from Norway. The new quotas will pave the way for processing of more herring and mackerel in Norway, and will make it possible to develop new markets for these products now that we cannot export to the Russian market,” added Ms Aspaker.

Before the agreements enter into force, they must first be approved by the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) and the EU member countries.