What food can I bring into Norway?
The 10 kg quota, the ban on non-EEA meat and dairy, fish and exceptions.
Short answer
Arriving from an EU/EEA country, you can bring 10 kilograms of meat, meat products and cheese in total duty-free, but meat and dairy from outside the EEA are banned. The quota is per person over 12. From outside the EEA, only small amounts of baby food and special medical food are allowed, plus up to 20 kilograms of fish.
Why
- Tolletaten's quota is 10 kilograms of meat, meat products, cheese and animal feed in total per person over 12 when you arrive from another EEA country.
- Mattilsynet prohibits all personal consignments of meat and milk products from countries outside the EU/EEA, except infant milk, baby food and special medical food under 2 kilograms.
- From countries outside the EU/EEA you may bring up to 20 kilograms of fish and certain shellfish without veterinary control.
Details
Children under 12 may bring only soft drinks, chocolate and sweets duty-free. Potatoes may not be imported without special permission. Meat and dairy for private use are allowed from Switzerland, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein and San Marino, and up to 5 kilograms from the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Food that breaks the rules must be handed in on arrival, and failing to declare it may lead to prosecution.
Tip
Leave meat and cheese bought outside the EEA at home, or go through the red channel and hand it in, since undeclared products can lead to prosecution.
What may differ
Where the trip started matters: food bought in Sweden, Denmark or Germany falls under the 10-kilogram quota, while food from the UK or the USA is covered by the ban on meat and dairy from outside the EEA. Dog and cat food does not count towards the 10 kilograms.
Common misconception
Sealed, shop-bought meat or cheese is fine to bring from any country.
What actually happens
Packaging makes no difference: Mattilsynet bans all personal imports of meat and milk products from outside the EU/EEA, apart from small amounts of baby food and special medical food.
People also ask
- Can I bring food into Norway?
- What are Norway's customs rules for food?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Norwegian Customs (Tolletaten) and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) before you travel.
Tax free and duty free in NorwayRelated questions
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Does Norway have a working holiday visa?
Norway gives working holiday permits only to young citizens of six countries: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Argentina, Andorra and Canada.
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Do I need to stop at customs when driving into Norway from Sweden?
When you drive into Norway from Sweden, you only need to stop at customs if you have goods over the quota or value limit to declare.
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What happens if I bring more than the duty-free quota into Norway?
If you declare the goods over the quota and pay the duty, you keep them, but undeclared goods found by customs lead to a fine and are confiscated.
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How do I declare goods at Norwegian customs?
You declare goods either in Tolletaten's Kvoteappen before you reach the border or in the red channel at a staffed customs office, where you pay the duty.