Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-IV§46 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
Other environmental requirements |
Energy |
Relevant information
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The fuel distributors are obliged to sell a certain share of biofuels in their total annual sale of fuels. In 2015, the quota obligation was increased from 3.5% to 5.5%, and, in January 2017, new rules came into force to further increase it from 5.5% to 7%. From October 2017, the quota obligation was further increased to 8%, and from January 2018 to 10%. There have also been requirements to increase the use of advanced biofuels (those based on waste and sustainable sources and not on food crops). Advanced biofuels are double counted within the quota obligation. From 2017, Norway introduced an advanced biofuels quota obligation of 1.5%, which was increased to 2.5% from October 2017 and to 3.5 % from January 2018. Thus, Norway is encouraging the production of liquid biofuels for road, air, and marine transport from sustainable forest raw materials.
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Keywords
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Bio
Forest
Sustainable
Waste
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-IV§47 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
Public procurement |
Energy |
Relevant information
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In 2016-17, the parliament (Storting) approved a number of decisions impacting the Norwegian biofuels sector. Four resolutions were passed concerning: application of the European Union's sustainability requirements for all biofuels sold in Norway, industry agreement on the sale of palm-free biofuels, review of fees and regulations to promote advanced sustainable biofuels, and a formal request that the Government take measures to legally prohibit public procurement of palm oil-based biofuels by amending the Public Procurement Regulations Act.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-IV§49 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Forestry |
Relevant information
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(…) The Nature Diversity Act is concerned with preservation aspects and principles and measures for sustainable use, species and habitat management, alien organisms and access to genetic material. A number of regulations associated with these acts form the main legal framework for the forestry sector in Norway (Table 4.8). (...)
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Keywords
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Bio
Forest
Conservation
Wildlife
Sustainable
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-Table-IV.8 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
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Forestry |
Relevant information
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Table 4.8 Main forestry laws and regulations, 2017
Title Date Reference Overview Recent amendments
Acts:
Forestry Act 1/1/2006 27/5/2005 No. 31 To promote sustainable management of forest resources in Norway 28/3/2014 No. 9
(…)
Nature Diversity Act 19/6/2009 19/06/2009 No. 100, Section 28, Section 30 and Section 31 Aims to preserve the biological, landscape, geological diversity and ecological processes through conservation and sustainable use
Regulations:
Regulation on Subsidies for Industrial and Environmental Measures in Forestry 5/3/2004 4/2/2004 No. 447 Subsidies to forest owners for environmental measures, forest culture, road construction, bioenergy, removal by cable car or horse 28/5/2015 No. 551, on provisions for road construction
Regulation on Sustainable Forestry 1/7/2006 7/6/2006 No. 593 To promote sustainable forestry pursuant to provisions in the Forestry Act 1/10/2015 No. 1155
(...)
Regulation on the Forest Fund 1/9/2006 3/7/2006 No. 881 For financing sustainable forest management through the compulsory fund 3/3/2014 No. 246 and 2/9/2014 No. 1144
(...)
Regulation on forest seeds and forest plants 1/3/1996 1/3/1996 No. 291 Regulation to ensure that good quality seed and plants are used to rejuvenate forests, and to ensure genetic diversity
(...)
Regulation on subsidies for forestry planning for sustainable forestry 4/2/2004 4/2/2004 No. 449 For subsidies to promote sustainable forestry in the short and long term 3/9/2014 No. 1144
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Keywords
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Bio
Conservation
Eco
Environment
Forest
Genetic
Natural resources
Conservation
Sustainable
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-IV§51 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
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Forestry |
Relevant information
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The regulation on Alien Organisms of June 2015 was enacted to prevent the introduction and spread of alien organisms that could harm the environment. As a result of this regulation, certain species, including several tree species, are outright prohibited from importation or may be imported under licence after approval of the application (see Section 3.1.5). As the use of invasive alien trees, including Christmas trees, could have an adverse impact on biological diversity, they require a permit granted by the local authorities and these are generally granted for the purpose of Christmas tree production. The Regulation on Subsidies for Industrial and Environmental Measures in Forestry was amended in 2015 to simplify the provisions on subsidies for forestry roads.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-IV§52 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
Other environmental requirements |
Forestry |
Relevant information
|
In 2016, the Storting set a new target to set aside 10% of forest lands for protection. A date for reaching this target is not specified. At present, 4% of forest lands are protected as nature reserves.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-IV§53 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments, Loans and financing |
Forestry |
Relevant information
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During the review period, Norway continued to support the forestry sector through a number of subsidies, funds or grants, and private initiatives, with the general level of support for infrastructure to the sector increasing overall. In 2016, the Government supported the forestry sector with a number of different programmes, either directly to the sector or as part of climate control measures, with a number of these schemes being newly established in 2016 (Table 4.9). Norway's most recent notification of subsidies to the WTO has indicated there are five subsidy measures for the forestry sector amounting to approximately NKr 388 million in 2016. These include: (...) Subsidies for Industrial and Environmental Purposes in Forestry, (...) In addition, there are private initiatives and funds applied more generally to all industries that support the sector.
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Keywords
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Climate
Environment
Forest
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-IV§55 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
Non-monetary support |
Forestry |
Relevant information
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Many of the recently added subsidies have been aimed at combatting climate change; while these remain relatively small, they were often higher than expected, i.e. in 2016, 8,000 hectares were fertilized compared to a level of 300-500 hectares before the measure was implemented.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-Table-IV.9 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
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Forestry |
Relevant information
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Table 4.9 Overview of support to the sector, 2012-17
Fund/scheme Overview Financing Reference
Forest Fund Scheme Forest Fund To ensure the financing of sustainable forest management In 2016, NKr 489 million was credited and NKr 391 million was debited to the Forest Trust Fund, resulting in NKr 1.545 billion as a balance to the fund. Assuming that a forest landowner on average has a tax rate of about 40%, a tax relief on 85% of the major part of the debited amount can be compared to a grant of NKr 125 million in 2016. (...)
Grants from the interest earned in the Forest Fund The interest earned on the Fund can be used as subsidies for planning, providing information, and promoting development In 2017, up to NKr 3 million may have been provided as subsidies. Seven projects were awarded subsidies totalling NKr 2.98 million. (...)
Subsidies for industrial and environmental purposes in forestry Forest quality development Regeneration, silvicultural activities, thinning, pruning, soil scarification 72.3 million 2016.
(...)
Environmental measures in forestry Subsidies to offset the cost of environmental measures, economic losses from conservation measures, etc. In 2016, NKr 1.3 million was paid.
(...)
Subsidies for Forest Management Planning For the preparation of forestry plans, registration of forestry and environmental information In 2016, NKr 25 million was paid out.
(...)
Climate measures Fertilization of forest stands as a climate measure For fertilization in order to increase production and growth Up to 40% of the cost of fertilization can be subsidized.
In 2016, NKr 10.9 million was paid. (...)
Increased seedling density as a climate measure To increase the number of plants when re-planting Up to 80% of the cost of the re-planting.
In 2016, NKr 11.7 million was paid. (...)
Planting on new areas as a climate measure A three-year pilot project for Rogaland, Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland (...)
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Keywords
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Climate
Conservation
Environment
Forest
Soil
Sustainable
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/373 |
S-IV§56 |
Norway |
2018 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Forestry |
Relevant information
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Norway participates in a number of international agreements or initiatives in the forestry sector in order to promote sustainable forests, combat climate change, or prevent deforestation. Norway participates in the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) since 2000, working towards international cooperation on sustainable forests worldwide.
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Keywords
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Climate
Forest
Sustainable
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