"We get a competitive disadvantage compared to the small farmers," Ivan Vindheim told the Norwegian court.
Photo: North Atlantic Seafood Forum 2024.
Mowi's first attempt to take the Norwegian government to court over the Norway's ground rent tax - popularly known as the salmon tax - has been dismissed by judges this week.
Mowi CEO Ivan Vindheim appeared at a preliminary court hearing on Thursday 11 April to set out the Mowi case, which claims Norway's ground rent tax represents a breach of the Norwegian constitution as well as European Economic Area rules.
Specifically, the company argues that the minimum tax deduction of NOK 70 million is discriminatory and unfairly benefits smaller salmon producers.
However, judges at the district court in Hordaland, Norway, have dismissed the Mowi lawsuit, at least for now.
According to Norwegian news outlet E24, the court considered that Mowi, as the world's largest salmon farming company, was well-equipped to wait until the tax authority decision, expected to be made public in late 2024 or early 2025.
However, the court also said it believed that Mowi will be successful in having the case tried if it mounts further legal action after the tax decision has been made.
The salmon farming company now has a month in which to lodge an appeal, and said it was weighing up its options.
The plaintiffs are ordered to pay the state's legal costs of NOK 335,925 (EUR 28,464 / USD 30,541).