There is a duty to notify the Norwegian Food Safety Authority before such goods can be declared. On the customs declaration, the declarant states codes that indicate what type of notifications have been given.
| Note: An update of this article is pending. Please note that some terms and/or references may differ from the Movement of Goods Act and the Customs Duty Act that enters into force from the 1st of January 2023. |
For importation from countries outside of the EU/EEA veterinary area (third country) there may be a requirement that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority shall perform an inspection and issue an import permit before the goods can be declared.
Below you will find what types of goods require that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority be notified before the importation can take place, and also what types of goods require a permit from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
The following types of goods require a permit/notification:
- live animals (also imported from the EU/EEA)
- animal products (including foodstuffs containing animal products)
- certain vegetable products
- non-animal foodstuffs
- animal feed products
Use of codes on the customs declaration
There are two codes that are used in box 44 on the customs declaration:
- V5 - you declare that the duty to notify the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has been fulfilled
- VT - you declare that an import permit has been granted by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (CHED forms) for goods where this is required.
When you state these codes on the customs declaration you guarantee that the duty to notify the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has been fulfilled and that the necessary import permit has been granted by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
Live animals from the EU/EEA
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority shall be notified. You state code V5 in box 44 following by the abbreviation MAT.
For example,
V5 MAT
If live animals are imported from Iceland, see the section below on animal products and live animals - importation from a third country.
Animal products and live animals - importation from a third country
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority shall be notified. You guarantee that notification has been given by stating code V5 in box 44.
In addition, the consignment shall be inspected by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Proof that the inspection has been made is the existence of a CHED form approved by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority`s border inspection posts. You state code VT in box 44 with reference to the number of the form.
For example,
V5 MAT
VT CHEDA.NO.2020.XXXXXX (live animals)
VT CHEDP.NO.2020.XXXXX (products of animal origin)
If the Norwegian Food Safety Authority finds that a border inspection shall not be performed, there shall be a declaration concerning this. The declaration`s number is used as a reference along with the code VT, and it shall be possible to present it to Norwegian Customs.
Any reference to CHED may not be made if the shipment is controlled by the competent authority in EU and approved for free circulation.
Non-animal products - importation from a third country
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority shall be notified. You guarantee that notification has been given when stating code V5 in box 44.
For example,
V5 MAT
There is an exemption from the duty for certain types of fruits and vegetables, independent of the country the goods come from.
Animal feed products and certain foodstuffs of non-animal origin - importation from a third country
For the importation of animal feed products and certain foodstuffs from third countries, an import permit must be granted by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (CHED-form). Changes to the scope of goods shall be announced by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority four times a year.
When you declare code VT as well as a reference to the CHED form in box 44, you guarantee that the consignment has been inspected by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and that they have granted an import permit.
For example,
V5 MAT
VT CHEDD.NO.2020.XXXXX
Any reference to CHED may not be made if the shipment is controlled by the competent authority in EU and approved for free circulation.