The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of the EU are not part of the EEA Agreement. Free movement of goods within the framework of the EEA Agreement does not apply to all products.
Following Article 8 (3) (a) and (b) of the EEA Agreement, only products falling under certain chapters of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, as well as products specified in Protocol 3 to the EEA Agreement, are subject to the principle of free movement of goods.
However, the EEA Agreement does provide provisions on various related aspects such as:
Agricultural products - preferential trade
Most trade in agricultural products is not included in the EEA Agreement. However, the parties of the EEA Agreement have undertaken to make efforts with a view to achieving progressive liberalisation of agricultural trade. In addition, the EEA Agreement determines preferential trade arrangements for certain processed agricultural products.
Trade in agriculture is covered by Article 19 of the EEA Agreement. Protocol 3 to the Agreement regulates preferential trade in processed agricultural products.
The Working Group on Processed Agricultural Products normally meets once a year to review the trade in processed agricultural products as foreseen in Article 2(2) of Protocol 3 to the EEA Agreement.
See also: DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROWTH) - Processed Agricultural Products
Fishery products - trade
Provisions regarding the trade in fish and other marine products are set out in Protocol 9 to the EEA Agreement. The EFTA States agree bilaterally with the EU on this matter. The EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is outside the scope of the EEA Agreement.
See also: DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (DG MARE) - Fisheries
Food safety - food and veterinary matters
The legislation concerning food and veterinary matters is fully harmonised within the EEA. The primary goal of the legislation is to ensure a high level of protection of human life and health, to protect consumer interests and to guarantee fair practices in trade with food and feed, taking into account food and feed safety, animal health and welfare and consumer information.
Given that the safety of the final product may be affected at any stage of the food production process, the legislation follows a food chain approach “from farm to fork”. All sectors of the food chain are covered, including food and feed production, primary production, processing, storage, transport and sale to the consumer. The legislation is based on the general principles of traceability, risk assessment, a precautionary approach and food business operator responsibility.
The legislation ensures harmonised standards and criteria for all food and feed production on the internal market and sets out responsibilities and requirements for all food and feed business operators and primary producers. It also sets forth harmonised requirements for the national authorities responsible for the official controls. Through the EEA Agreement the EEA EFTA States are also ensured full participation in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The veterinary legislation covers animal and public health requirements for the production, trade and imports of live animals and animal products, as well as issues related to the control of these products. Arrangements for animal welfare and the control and prevention of animal diseases are also included.
As regards animal feed, the legislation concerns marketing and labelling, undesirable substances in feed, the authorisation of feed additives and the control of feed producing establishments.
In addition to food hygiene, the food legislation deals with a wide range of matters related to food safety, food quality, food contact materials and information to consumers. It also covers areas such as biotechnology (genetically modified food), labelling and information, contaminants and residues, as well as food additives and food flavourings. Legislation concerning organic production is also covered by the food legislation in the EEA Agreement.
The Working Group on the Food Chain deals with all food, feed and veterinary matters and follows the development of any new legislation in the EU within these fields. The Working Group considers a large number of legal acts every year and facilitates the incorporation of the relevant legislation into the EEA Agreement.
The Expert Group on Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) deals with legislation concerning residues of veterinary medicinal products in food and feed. The Expert Group does not meet regularly.
- Veterinary Issues are covered by Annex I, Chapter I of the EEA Agreement.
- Feedingstuffs are covered by Annex I, Chapter II of the EEA Agreement.
- Foodstuffs are covered by Annex II, Chapter XII of the EEA Agreement.
- Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) are covered by Annex II, Chapter XIII of the EEA Agreement.
See also: DG Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) - Food and Veterinary Matters
Organic production
Organic production is a comprehensive system of farm management and food production that focuses on biodiversity, preservation of natural resources, environmentally friendly practices, high animal welfare standards and the use of natural raw materials. Fertilisers and plant protection products can only be used to a limited extent and genetically modified organisms (GMO) are forbidden in the production and processing of organic products.
Products made according to rules for organic production are labelled with the EU logo, or a national logo, for organic production. The organic logo can only be used on products that have been certified as organic by an authorised control agency or body. This means that they have fulfilled strict conditions on how they are produced, transported and stored.
The Working Group on the Food Chain deals with the incorporation into the EEA Agreement of legislation regarding organic production.
Organic production is covered by Annex II, Chapter XII of the EEA Agreement.
See also: DG Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) - Organic production
Plants
The EU and the EEA EFTA States do not have fully harmonised legislation regarding plants. The EEA Agreement contains legislation regarding plant seeds, with the exception of provisions relating to imports and border control. Legislation regarding plant health is not part of the EEA Agreement.
The Working Group on the Food Chain deals with matters concerning seeds.
Seeds are covered by Annex I, Chapter III of the EEA Agreement.
See also: DG Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) - Plants