DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No 3/2026

of 6 February 2026

amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement [2026/932]

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (“the EEA Agreement”), and in particular Article 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2023 on specific rules relating to the entry into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom of certain consignments of retail goods, plants for planting, seed potatoes, machinery and certain vehicles operated for agricultural or forestry purposes, as well as non-commercial movements of certain pet animals into Northern Ireland ( 1 ) is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.

(2) Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 concerns specific rules relating to the entry into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom for certain products listed therein. As such, it provides for rights and obligations on other parties than the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement. For the purposes of the EEA Agreement, only provisions that lay down rights and obligations on the Contracting Parties shall be incorporated into the Agreement. Parts of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 shall therefore not apply to the EFTA States.

(3) This Decision concerns, inter alia, legislation regarding live animals other than fish and aquaculture animals and animal products such as ova, embryo and semen. Legislation concerning these matters shall not apply to Iceland, as specified in paragraph 2 of the Introductory Part of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement.

(4) This Decision concerns, inter alia , legislation regarding veterinary matters and phytosanitary matters. Legislation regarding veterinary matters and phytosanitary matters shall not apply to Liechtenstein as long as the application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products is extended to Liechtenstein, as specified in the sectoral adaptations to Annex I to the EEA Agreement. This Decision is therefore not to apply to Liechtenstein.

(5) Annex I to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following is inserted after point 60 (Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/300) in Part 7.2 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement:

‘61.

32023 R 1231 : Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2023 on specific rules relating to the entry into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom of certain consignments of retail goods, plants for planting, seed potatoes, machinery and certain vehicles operated for agricultural or forestry purposes, as well as non-commercial movements of certain pet animals into Northern Ireland ( OJ L 165, 29.6.2023, p. 103 ).

The provisions of the Regulation shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be read with the following adaptation:

Articles 1(2) and (3), 3–12, 19 and Annexes I–IV shall not apply to the EFTA States.’

Article 2

The text of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union , shall be authentic.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on 7 February 2026, provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement have been made ( *1 ) .

Article 4

This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European Union .

Done at Brussels, 6 February 2026.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

Nicolas VON LINGEN

( 1 ) OJ L 165, 29.6.2023, p. 103 .

( *1 ) No constitutional requirements indicated.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/932/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)