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In 2015, Norway issued new regulations aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of foreign organisms, i.e. the Regulations relating to alien organisms issued pursuant to the Nature Diversity Act. , These new rules came into force on 1 January 2016. The purpose of the Regulations is to prevent the import, release and spread of alien organisms that have or may have adverse impacts on biological or landscape diversity. It includes a general requirement of a permit for the import of organisms, and for the release of alien organisms, however with a number of exceptions. The Regulations also include a prohibition against the import, release and placing on the market of 31 alien organisms, mainly plants, but also live American Lobster (Homarus americanus). Several hundred species are subject to exemption (Annex II) and about 70 species are subject to specific authorization to import (Annex III) per a licence. The regulation also imposes a duty of care on persons who may introduce a species so that preventative action or remediation can take place to limit the consequences on the environment. Norway has not implemented the EU Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species.

Table 3.12 Import restrictions, prohibitions or licensing requirements, 2018
Products Type of measure Legal basis
Automatic licensing:
(…)
Controlled substances that deplete the ozone layer Prohibited unless a permit is obtained Regulation No. 922 of 1 June 2004, Product Control Regulations
Prohibitions and/or restrictions:
(...)
Alien organisms Annex I organisms are prohibited and other organisms covered by the regulations require, with some exemptions, a licence Act No. 100 of 19 June 2009 Relating to the Management of Biological, Geological and Landscape Diversity (Nature Diversity Act); Regulation No. 716 of 19 June 2015
Wastes Pursuant to EEA and the Basel Convention, there are restrictions on the import and export of wastes. Shipping of wastes to Svalbard is prohibited Regulation No. 930 of 1 June 2004 on Waste Recycling and Treatment
(...)
Hazardous chemicals, toys and products Prohibitions and restrictions apply Regulation relating to restrictions on the use of chemicals and other products hazardous to health and the environment (Product Regulation) No. 922 of 1 June 2004, Regulation No. 516 of 30 May 2008 on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals
(...)
Endangered animals and plants Animals and plants listed as endangered by CITES, prohibited (Appendix I-species) and requiring a licence (Appendix II- and III-species) Act No. 32 of 6 June 1997 on Import and Export Regulations; Regulation No. 1276 of 15 November 2002 for the implementation of the Convention of 3 March 1973 on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
(...)

Norway has been a party to the CITES convention since 1974 and has been protecting 35,000 threatened species listed by CITES through a licensing system. It applies the CITES provisions as they pertain to the three appendices. However, it has a number of specific reservations and thus does not apply the trade restrictions of Appendix I to certain species of whales, sharks, and seahorses. Rather, these species are treated according to Appendix II provisions. Through the Norwegian Environment Agency, Norway requires a permit for the importation, exportation, or re-exportation of the items contained in Norway's CITES appendices. Norway's provisions for the prohibition or regulated trade of these species are contained in Regulation No. 1276 of 15 November 2002 for the implementation of the Convention of 3 March 1973 on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Foreign Organisms. The regulation is currently under revision (see para. 2.12).

Table 3.14 Export prohibitions and restrictions, 2017
Products affected Type of restriction Legal basis (date)
Endangered animal and plant species (CITES) Export prohibition/export licence required from the Norwegian Environment Agency Act No. 32 of 6 June 1997 on Import and Export Regulations; Regulation No. 1276 of 15 November 2002 for the implementation of the Convention of 3 March 1973 on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Wastes A permit is required from the Norwegian Environment Agency Regulation No. 930 of 1 June 2004 on Wastes
(...)
Minke whale products Export licence required from the Norwegian Environment Agency Regulations relating to the export of minke whales No. 799 of 29 June 2001
(...)
Radioactive and nuclear waste Export licence required from Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority Waste Regulation No. 930 of 1 June 2004
(...)

Innovation Norway is the Government's main entity for business development, innovation, and export and investment promotion. It has a variety of programmes and services in order to support start-ups, improve opportunities for growth companies, and promote the internationalization of businesses. (...) As part of its mandate, Innovation Norway has a number of financing products to support businesses, and it provides a number of loans, grants, or guarantees. [99]

[99] These include: (...) environmental technology scheme (...) bioenergy programme; bio refinement programme; (...)

(…) Incentives granted to "green measures", particularly from the Norwegian Energy Fund, have become gradually more important, and amounted to nearly €1 billion in 2015. (…)

Table 3.18 State aid granted by Norway, 2012-15
€ million
Measure/Year 2012 2013 2014 2015
(…)
Environmental protection including energy saving 878.77 693.09 724.31 956.55
(…)

Table 3.19 Industry-wide and selected sector-specific support programmes, 2015 and 2016
NKr million
Initiation year Expiry Type of programme/project Measure Estimated subsidy in 2015 Estimated subsidy in 2016
Research and development 87.5 85.0
(…)
2003 - Bioenergy scheme Grant 59.9 65.5
(...)
General measures 578.0 688.0
1991/2000 - CO2 taxes and excise on mineral oil, exemptions and rebates by beneficiary: Tax concession
- Vessels used for fishing and catching (CO2 tax) 120.0 130.0
- Fish oil and fish meal industry (CO2 tax) 1.0 3.0
(...)
Forestry 362.2 388.2
(...)
2004 - Subsidies for industrial and environmental purposes in forestry [b] Grant 159.8 177.0

[b] This scheme includes: (1) subsidies for silviculture; (2) subsidies for construction of forest roads; (3) subsidies for conservation and enhancement of environmental values in forestry; (4) national grant for environmental considerations (extraction of round wood in difficult terrain using cable logging systems and horses); and (5) subsidies for the extraction of energy wood other than fuel wood.

In Norway, as in the rest of the EEA, CE marking must be applied whenever required by legislation. The marking is applied by the manufacturer as a declaration that the product meets all legal requirements for the marking and can be sold throughout the EEA. It is the manufacturer's responsibility to carry out the conformity assessment, set up the technical file, issue the EU declaration of conformity, and affix the CE marking to a product. Only then can this product be traded on the EEA market. [146]

[146] Product groups requiring CE marking: (...) Eco-design of energy related products; (...) Noise emission in the environment; (...) Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment; (...)

When the European Union negotiates mutual recognition agreements, it does so on the basis that the third country will conclude a parallel MRA with the EEA. Through the EEA, Norway has mutual recognition agreements with:
(…)
• Switzerland (2002), covering (...) biocidal products (...)