"It is particularly positive that market access is improved for processed products," said Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and the Oceans, Marianne Sivertsen Næss.
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Norway and the European Union have once again met at the negotiating table, this time regarding market access for Norwegian seafood, in parallel with negotiations regarding new European Economic Area funds.
The EU has agreed to open 12 time-limited duty-free import quotas for Norwegian seafood products, covering the period 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2028.
"The EU is the most important market for Norwegian seafood, and the duty-free quotas provide more opportunities for one of our most important export industries. It is particularly positive that market access is improved for processed products," said Minister of Fisheries and the Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss, in a Norwegian government press statement.
"A time-consuming negotiation process and established procedures for approving the agreement have meant that it has taken time before the industry has been able to put the quotas into use," the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Fisheries stated.
The agreed quota volume, which retrospectively covers the period from 1 May 2021 until the quotas were opened on 1 January 2025, will be distributed over the remaining agreement period until 30 April 2028. If the quotas are not fully utilized, it will be possible to draw on the remaining, accumulated volume until 30 April 2030, or until a possible new agreement is in place, the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries said.
Full details of the agreement can be viewed on the European Union's EUR-Lex website.