Regulation relevant to alien species - Norway (NO)

No 38, 28^th of May 1981, with later amendments

Article 3, 47 and Article 26(9).

The Wildlife Act prohibits the unauthorised introduction or release of the wild animal species or subspecies not previously occurring in the area of introduction (article 47). The Act covers terrestrial mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Some birds and mammals are exempted from this regulation (their names can be seen at the Directorate for Nature Management homepage http://www.dirnat.no/wbch3.exe?p=2558&sec=Hoved
del&secnr=1#§3,47%20og%2048).

Article 26(9) empowers the government to make regulations laying down specific rules concerning the importation of live animals and their eggs. It is not known if any such regulation has been issued.

The scope of the Wildlife Act is restricted to terrestrial mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians being able to reproduce and survive in the Norwegian climate. These provisions therefore do not apply to other animal species (e.g. terrestrial invertebrates) or to plants.

http://www.lovdata.no/all/hl-19810529-038.html

Statutory order:

Http://www.lovdata.no/cgi-wift/ldles?doc=/sf/s
f/sf-19761120-0003.html

The Product Control Act

No 79, 11^th of June 1976 with later amendments

The Project Control Act is relevant in relation to import of live invertebrate species not already covered by other regulations.

The Product Control Act generally aims at securing the public right to a safe environment and health. The Act was not primarily established to meet the problem with introductions and invasive species, however, the scope of the act is so wide that legally it probably can be used in this context. For animals covered by this Act applications have to be submitted in a standard format (which can be seen at the Directorate for Nature Management homepage http://www.dirnat.no/wbch3.exe?p=2559 )

http://www.lovdata.no/all/hl-19760611-079.html 

The Act on Salmonids and Freshwater Fish

No. 47, 15^th of May 1992, and later amendments.

Article 8

The Act of 15 May 1992 relating to Salmonids and Freshwater Fish establishes a permit requirement for the importation of live anadromous salmonids, freshwater fish, eggs or fry of such fish or animals eaten by such fish. This rule also applies to crayfish.

Any release of anadromous salmonids or frehwater fish and their eggs or fry into inland waters, fjords or the sea is also prohibited except under permit. In certain cases general permits may be granted by regulations (Article 9).

Lastly, any restocking of salmonids or freshwater fish with a view to enhancing existing stocks is also subject to a permit (Article 10).

The act has been amended to cover all freshwater organisms by a Statutory order (Statutory order:

http://www.lovdata.no/for/sf/md/xd-19921
218-1177.html)

Through another statutory order it has been established that it is prohibited to import live crayfish to Norway. http://www.lovdata.no/for/sf/ld/xd-
20031014-1239.html

http://www.lovdata.no/all/nl-19920515-047.html

http://www.ub.uio.no/ujur/ulovdata/lov-19920515-047-eng.pdf 

Act on Animal Welfare

No. 73 of 20^th of December 1974

According to the Act on Animal Welfare it is prohibited to use live fish as bait. The purpose of this regulation is to prevent unintentional dispersal of fish species, as well as to regulate animal welfare aspects.

http://www.lovdata.no/all/hl-19741220-073.html

No. 68 of 14^th June 1985

Article 15

The Act Relating to the Breeding of Fish, Shellfish Etc. and regulations adopted under it regulate activities related to fish farming and establish a licensing regime for the industry. The Act is administered by the Ministry of Fisheries. The purpose of the Act is "to contribute towards the balanced and sustainable development of the fish-breeding industry to help it become a profitable and viable industry."

The Act states that a licence will not be granted if the facility

• Will cause the risk of the spread of disease among fish or shellfish,
• will cause the risk of pollution, or
• has a location which conflicts with activities in the surrounding environment, lawful traffic or other exploitation of the area

The Act forbids any importation of live marine organisms and the eggs of such organisms (Article 15). For some organisms it will is possible make exemptions and thus to allow the import of such organisms for breeding in Norway.

http://www.fiskeridir.no/sider/lover/oppdrettsloven.html

http://www.fiskeridir.no/english/pages/regulations
/pdf/aquaculture_act.pdf

Sea-water Fisheries Act

Act no 40 of 3^rd of June 1983

Article 4

The act first and foremost regulates the harvesting of marine species, but also contains a general prohibition against the deliberate release of organisms and live roe in fiords and marine areas without a permit from the Department of Fisheries (Fiskeridepartementet).

Http://www.lovdata.no/all/hl-19830603-040.html

Act on "maritime aquaculture" (Lov om havbeite)

Act no. 118 of 21^th December 2000

Article 3,7

Aquaculture encompases the legal release of crayfish, invertebrates and echinoderms with the intention of subsequent harvest for nutritional purposes. Any such release will always demand approval from Department of Fisheries. Releases will not be approved in cases where there is a risk for adverse effects on the environment, including adverts effects on biological diversity, ecosystem balance or disease transmission. In article 7 indispensable conditions are put forward:

• Permissions are not to be given where there is a risk for adverse effect on human health or environment, including adverse effect on biological diversity.
• Permissions may only be given for aquaculture animals which are indigenous
• The applicant must document the environmental conditions on the locality

http://www.lovdata.no/all/nl-20001221-118.html

The Act relating to the production and use of genetically modified organisms

Act No. 38 of 2^nd of April 1993

The entire act

http://www.lovdata.no/all/hl-19930402-038.html