Search

During the review period, a number of amendments were made to the legislation affecting SPS measures:
- Act No. 54/1990 on the Importation of Animals was amended in 2013 through Act No. 60/2013 on the Protection of Nature requiring that before a certain species of animal or plant that is foreign to Iceland can be imported, a licence from the Environment Agency of Iceland must be obtained, as well as a licence from the Ministry of Industries and Innovation; (...)

With regard to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Iceland has implemented the EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMOs into the environment. EU Regulations (EC) Nos. 1829/2003 and 1830/2003 on the marketing, labelling and traceability of genetically modified food and feed have not been incorporated into Icelandic legislation. Regulation No. 1237/2014 on traceability and labelling of GM food and GM feed applies to food and feed when more than 0.9% of each ingredient is produced from GMOs.

(...) With respect to the public sector, the ICA (Icelandic Competition Authority) advocates for competition incentives being used to increase efficiency and quality in public services, such as waste management, health care and education.

Table 3.10 Public procurement legal framework, 2017
Law or regulation Legal reference
(...)
Public procurement of clean and energy-efficient vehicles Law No. 70/2012
(...)

Agriculture policy is the responsibility of the Ministry of Industries and Innovation, which was formed in September 2012 by the amalgamation of the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism and part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In January 2008, the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (Matvælastofnun - MAST) was established as an inspection and administrative body with responsibilities that include: food safety; plant and livestock quality, and health-related matters; feed, seed, and fertilizer services; administration of organic production; and monitoring of animal welfare.

The overall objective of agriculture policy is to maintain and strengthen a diverse agricultural sector, as far as natural and marketing conditions allow. The main emphases of policy are: to meet domestic demand to the extent that this goal is realistic; to maintain sustainable production of high quality and healthy products; to improve efficiency and competitiveness; to improve farmers' incomes; to improve creativity and create job opportunities; and to sustain livelihoods in rural areas.

As for dairy farming, the support entitlements for sheep farming are to be phased out by end-2025 and replaced by quality assurance premiums for farmers for sheep meat meeting requirements relating to, inter alia, animal welfare, sustainable land use, and quality.

Table 4.6 General operating environment for agriculture, 2017-2026
ISK million
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
(...)
Organic production 35 34 34 34 34 33 33 33 33 32
(...)

In terms of fish processing, several long-term trends appear to have come to an end in the 2010-17 period. The quantity of fish for oil and fishmeal production, which had been in steady decline since the early 2000s when it accounted for about two-thirds of total fish processing, has fluctuated since 2010 reflecting reductions in capelin catch which had been mostly used for meal and oil production. On the other hand, the quantity of frozen fish had increased steadily to over half of the total by 2010, but has since declined to 40% in 2015 (Chart 4.5). According to the authorities, the change from long-term trends in the mid-2000s is due to climate change and mackerel and capelin stocks moving further north.

The Department of Fisheries and Innovation in the Ministry of Industries and Innovation is responsible for developing policies and preparing legislation. The Directorate of Fisheries, which is run as a separate entity within the Ministry, is responsible for implementing government policy, running the management system, monitoring and controlling fishing activities, collecting data, and imposing penalties for illegal catches. The Icelandic Coast Guard's responsibilities include inspection, control, and enforcement of the laws at sea. The Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (MRFI) in the Ministry is responsible for research and advising the Government on sustainable use of marine resources. (...)