G/SPS/N/NOR/38  
 
22 November 2018  
(18-7345) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  NORWAY  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture and Food  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable): Hay (HS Code: 12.14.9091); Straw (HS Code: 12.13.0001); 
Processed hay and straw (HS Co de: 12.14.9099)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Other countries than the European Economic Area  
5. Title of the notified document: Regulati on concerning additional requirements for 
imported hay and straw for animal feed . Language(s): English translation.  Number of 
pages: 2 
https://members.wto.org/ crnattachments/2018/SPS/NOR/18_5697_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The regulation introduces the following requirements for hay 
and straw imported into Norway : 
 Hay and straw must be accompanied  by a declaration from the producer that the 
hay/straw was stored for at least two months before export;  
 Hay and straw from USA and Canada must be accompanied by attestation from an 
official veterinarian certifying that the product was harvested in a state  or province 
where Chronic Wasting Disease has not been detected . 
The regulation also includes requirements (that have been in place since 2001) for hay 
and straw from another Norwegian regulation in order to ensure that the additional 
requirements for hay  and straw are in one regulation. These requirements are:  
 Hay and straw must be accompanied by a declaration from the producer that the 
product was harvested from farms where manure has not been used as fe rtilizer for 
the past two years;  
 Hay and straw must  also be accompanied by an attestation from an official 
veterinarian certifying that the product was harvested from a farm where there are 
no restrictions because of contagious animal disease.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests .  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: The drought the 
past summer (2018) has resulted in an  unprecedented shortage of hay and straw in 
Norway making import of these products necessary.  G/SPS/N/NOR/38  
 
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  The Norwegian Veterinary Institute assessed the risk related to the import of hay and 
straw from other European Economic Area countries and relevant countries out side the 
EEA in July 2018 (risk assessments dated 11 and 26 July 2018).  
On 13 July 2018 , the farmer organisations had a meeting to organize the handling of the 
feed crisis. The same day the farmer organisations also had a meeting with the Norwegian 
Food Sa fety Authority concerning  import of feed.  
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food reduced import duties on hay and straw on 
13 July 2018 to ensure fodder for livestock. For information that shows the necessary 
compensation because of crop failure , see the  following link:  
https://www.landbruksdirektoratet.no/no/erstatning/klimabetingende -
skader/avlingssvikt/prognose -t%C3%B8rkesomm er. 
On 16 July 2018 , the farmer organisations sent a letter to the Norwegian Food Safety 
Authority asking  for stricter rules concerning imports of feed.  
On 19 July 2018 , the farmer organisations asked for a crisis meeting with the Minister of 
Agriculture. The meeting  was held on 23 July.  
On 25 July 2018 , the Ministry of Agriculture and Food sent a letter to the Norwegian Food 
Safety Authority requesting  the Authority cons ider introducing similar requirements for 
storage of imported hay and straw as found in a neighbouring EU country.  
Based on the risk assessments from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, the Norwegian 
authorities concluded that it is necessary  to introduce additional requirements for 
imported hay and straw from third countries in order to protect animal health in Norway. 
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority sent a draft regulation to the Ministry for adoption 
on 17 August 2018.  
The Ministry of Agriculture and  Food decided that the draft regulation instead had to be 
sent for public consultation because of national rules, and a revised draft was sent to the 
Ministry on 31 August for clearance. Clearance came from the Ministry on 18  September, 
after a delay cause d by a reshuffling of the cabinet that included the Minister of Agriculture 
and Food.  
On 19 September 2018 , the draft regulation was sent for a two -week public consultation 
in Norway, instead of the normal three -month consultation. The deadline for comment s 
was 4 October 2018. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority sent the revised draft to the 
Ministry for adoption on 9 October 2018.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or  serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
22 October 2018  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  G/SPS/N/NOR/38  
 
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  12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Addres s, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
P.O. Box 8114 Dep  
0032 OSLO  
Norway  
Tel: +(47) 2395 0000  
Fax: +(47) 2395 0099  
E-mail: post@mfa.no  
National Enquiry Point:  
Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food  
P.O. Box 8007 Dep  
0030 Oslo  
Norway  
Tel: +(47) 2224 9090  
Fax: +(47) 2224 9559  
E-mail: postmottak@lmd.dep.no  
Agency responsible:  
Norwegian Food Safety Authority  
P.O. Box 383  
N-2381 Brumunddal  
Tel: +(47) 2240 0000  
E-mail: postmottak@mattilsynet.no  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
P.O. Box 8114 Dep  
0032 OSLO  
Norway  
Tel: +(47) 2395 0000  
Fax: +(47) 23 95 0099  
E-mail: post@mfa.no  
National Enquiry Point:  
Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food  
P.O. Box 8007 Dep  
0030 Oslo  
Norway  
Tel: +(47) 2224 9090  
Fax: +(47) 2224 9559  
E-mail: postmottak@lmd.dep.no  
Agency responsible:  
Norwegian Food Safety Authority  
P.O. Box 383  
N-2381 Brumunddal  
Tel: +(47) 2240 0000  
E-mail: postmottak@mattilsynet.no