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Country Commercial Guides FY 2000: Norway Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Oslo, released July 1999 Note*

CHAPTER: VI. TRADE REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS

In Norway there are stringent import regulations on agricultural commodities, approval requirements for telecommunications equipment, and comprehensive labeling requirements for toxic chemicals, as well as a host of new rules and regulation changes occurring due to full implementation of the EEA in 1995. Consequently, it is very useful to have at least a Norwegian agent, if not a more substantial representative, to navigate through new EEA regulations.

Norway is heavily dependent on foreign trade, and its trade policy is generally aimed at expanding its trade and shipping services. As an EFTA/EEA member, Norway currently enjoys an industrial free-trade agreement with all EU member countries. Norway is using the harmonized system (HS) for commodity classification and, generally, import duties are relatively low on products imported from third-country suppliers.

There are few technical standards where enforcement has so far raised significant trade barriers for U.S. suppliers, although some obstacles have been encountered in the case of specialized electrical equipment. However, with more EEA regulations coming, it will probably gradually become more complicated for inexperienced U.S. exporters to Norway who do not have agents. European safety standards on electrical equipment for use in hazardous areas are favored in North Sea oil-and-gas production facilities and offshore exploration rigs.

ISO 9000 series:

Quality assurance is paramount for all equipment destined for the Norwegian offshore market, and is generally preferred in the inland market. Norway has adopted the ISO 9000 standards for quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC).

Electrical/electronic equipment:

Electrical equipment sold and used by the public (consumer electronics and household electrical appliances) must have an approval from NEMKO, or similar control establishments within the EU:

Norwegian Electrical Control Board
(Norges Elektriske Materiellkontroll-NEMKO)
Gaustadalleen 30
0371 Oslo, Norway
Tel: 011 (47) 22 96 03 30
Fax: 011 (47) 22 69 86 36

Electric current throughout Norway is 50 cycle, 220 volt a.c; single- and three-phase.

Toxic chemicals:

-a mandatory composition declaration is imposed on domestic and foreign suppliers of chemical substances and products.

The new requirement calls for a 100-percent product composition declaration to be filed and registered in the product register.

These provisions are a direct continuation of requirements introduced in 1984 and 1989 governing the declaration and labeling of very toxic, toxic, and carcinogenic substances and products. These products must be declared to the product register prior to import and production.

The fundamental principle is that all manufacturers and importers of chemicals shall provide all the information required by the product register. In cases where foreign producers need to withhold detailed composition from the importer, the foreign producer may send the complete chemical composition directly to the product register. One condition for accepting the above is that the importer supply administrative information ("administrative data") with reference to the information provided by the foreign supplier. The Norwegian importer is nevertheless responsible for labeling the product and preparing the safety data sheet.

In special instances, however, the board of the product register may grant a partial or total dispensation from the declaration requirements. Exemptions may be granted only for specific product groups, and for a limited period of time. The exemptions will normally not be granted for more than three years at a time. Special guidelines have been prepared in connection with the various forms of dispensation, which may be obtained from the product register:

Produktregisteret

(Chemical Product Register)
Ulvenveien 89 b
P.O. Box 8180 dep
0034 Oslo, Norway
Tel: (47) 22 64 48 10
Fax: (47) 22 65 15 39

Publication: "Declaration of chemical substances and products" -- Guidelines (in English).

Safety data sheets: an additional obligation for domestic manufacturers or importers includes the preparation of a safety data sheet, sufficiently comprehensive for the customer/user to handle the substance or product safely.

Information regarding the "administrative data" and the safety data sheets may be obtained from:

Arbeidstilsynet
(Directorate of Labor Inspection)
Fridtjof Nansens vei 14
P.O. Box 8103 dep
0032 Oslo, Norway
Tel: (47) 22 95 70 00
Fax: (47) 22 46 62 14

Questions regarding food products and food packaging regulations may be directed to:

Naeringsmiddelkontrollen
(Food Control Authority/Packaging Regulations)
Ullevaalsveien 76
P.O. Box 8187 dep
0034 Oslo, Norway
Tel: (47) 22 24 66 50
Fax: (47) 22 24 66 99

Labeling requirements: Guidelines/regulations governing required labeling of chemical substances and products which may involve a hazard to health may be obtained from:

Elanders Publishing A/S
P.O.Box 1156
0107 Oslo, Norway
Tel: (47) 22 63 64 00
Fax: (47) 22 63 65 94

EU's CE labeling:

In Norway there is no regulations or requirement for "country of origin" marking. Through its EEA agreement, Norway has adopted the EU's new CE mark/label on some products sold in the EU market. The CE label will also be an assurance that the product conforms to EU standards/directives, and thus provides for a free float between borders, serving as a "product passport." In other words, this will eventually eliminate the need for each EU or EEA country to "certify" the product by its own national testing labs. There will generally be only one "EU" certification necessary for most products, but the individual countries may apply some special area specifications to some few products/services.

It would be the Norwegian importer's or seller's responsibility to see that all imported products are in conformity with the regulations.

The CE label should incorporate: name/address of manufacturer; Ser. No.; CE mark. Some markings also incorporate pictograms/hazard symbols in accordance with the "EN" (European Norm) standard. Additional marking/instructions must at least have one of the receiving country's official languages.

At present, only 20 percent of the products sold in the EU are subject to this CE labeling requirement. According to the EU directives, subject product categories have a transition period and implementation date, others are already compulsory. One may also use a "notified body," an EU-accepted or authorized technical control agency, and/or an accepted test laboratory to certify conformity. Five potential Norwegian testing laboratories and technical institutions are currently being evaluated. The go will probably apply to the EEA body to have these organizations accredited as Norway's technical control authorities for CE requirements.

It is expected that more control will be enforced on products from third-country suppliers (this, of course, includes the United States), primarily concentrating on toys, pharmaceuticals and some foodstuffs. The "stated" reason for this is that many false "CE" labels appear on toys (in particular) exported from the PRC. An internal control will be required and sporadic controls will be performed by the Norwegian governmental authorities.

Trademarks/patents:

All trademark applications for the Norwegian market must be registered with the following GON agency:

Patentstyret
Styret for det Industrielle Rettsvern
Kobenhavngaten 10
P.O. Box 8160 dep
0033 Oslo, Norway
tel: (47) 22 38 73 00
fax: (47) 22 38 73 01

This is Norway's official patent office, handling trademark registration, innovation protection, etc.

A Norwegian company may file a trademark application directly with the agency, and has to pay a fixed price of:

NOK 1,600 ($ 215) - for one group registration,
and an additional
NOK 600 ($ 80) for each additional group.

However, a foreign company has to go through a local agent or other intermediary with the application. This may be a friend, a company, a lawyer, an individual, or one of the many private patent offices. The latter offices normally charge fixed consulting fees in addition to the official registration charge:

NOK 4,650 ($ 620)- for one group registration,
and an additional
NOK 420 ($ 56)- for each additional group

If the trademark application process should need comprehensive research and examination, or extensive contact/correspondence between the consultant, the agency, and the client, total expenses could perhaps run as high as NOK 10,000 ($ 1,300).

Major consulting firms specializing in patent and trademark procedures in Norway include:

Bryns Patentkontor A/S		Oslo Patentkontor A/S
Karl Johansgate 25		Holtegaten 20
Box 9566 Egertorget		Box 7007 H.byen
0128 Oslo, Norway		0306 Oslo, Norway
Tel: (47) 22 42 19 90		Tel: (47) 22 44 38 67
Fax: (47) 22 42 23 54		Fax: (47) 22 55 33 88 

Bryn & Aarflot A/S		Tandberg's Patentkontor A/S
Kongensgate 15			Uranienborg Terrasse 19
Box 449 Sentrum			Box 7085 H.byen
0104 Oslo, Norway		0306 Oslo, Norway
Tel: (47) 22 41 39 80		Tel: (47) 22 60 33 94
Fax: (47) 22 41 38 23		Fax: (47) 22 69 31 48

Samples, carnets:

Norway is a member of the international convention to facilitate the importation of commercial samples and advertising matter. Samples may be imported into Norway free of customs charges if they are of little or no commercial value, or if they have been made unfit for use. If they do not meet these requirements, samples are subject to customs duties. However, samples intended exclusively for obtaining orders in Norway may be temporarily exempted from duty payment provided a bond is posted upon entry. When the merchandise is reexported, the bond is canceled. Samples carried by a commercial traveler, as well as pattern books and pattern cards, must be declared immediately upon arrival in the country.

Samples may also be imported temporarily by using the ATA carnet, a simplified customs document by which commercial samples or professional equipment may be sent or taken into Norway and any of the other 43 foreign countries participating in the arrangement.

The ATA carnet is a guarantee to the customs authorities that duties and taxes will be paid if the goods are not taken out of the country. The carnet permits making customs arrangements in advance in the United States and is especially useful when visiting several countries, since the same document may be used and remains valid for a 12-month period. In the United States, ATA carnets are issued for a fee from:

U.S. Council for Intl. Business
1212 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
tel: (212) 354-4480
fax: (212) 575-0327

Advance rulings on classification:

Before signing a long-term contract or sending a shipment of considerable value, it may be prudent for the Norwegian importer or U.S. exporter to obtain an official ruling on customs treatment.

Requests for advance information regarding the customs classification of products may be addressed directly to:

Toll og Avgiftsdirektoratet
(Norwegian Customs Authority)
Schweigaardsgatan 15
P.O. Box 8122 dep
0032 Oslo, Norway
tel: (47) 22 86 03 00
fax: (47) 22 17 65 24

The application should describe the product in full detail. Samples, catalogs, photographs, or other descriptive literature should be submitted whenever possible. The application should be signed by the manufacturer, the exporter, or the representative in Norway. While the customs authorities will not in all cases give a binding decision, the decision will usually be considered binding if the goods are found to correspond exactly to the sample or the description.