EFTA said that the Icelandic measures cannot be justified on grounds of protection of health and life of humans or animals.
Under Icelandic law, imports of fresh meat, processed or unprocessed, chilled or frozen, meat preparations and other meat is subject to import authorisation.
Importers must apply for a permit and submit documents to the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Office, such as confirming that products have been frozen or that they are free of Salmonella.
Breach of law
The authorisation procedure is in breach of the Council Directive 89/662/EEC concerning veterinary checks in EEA trade, said EFTA in a letter.
By requiring operators to apply for an import permit and presenting certificates, the Icelandic legislation is imposing systematic checks on imports from the EEA that go beyond checks permitted under the Directive and constitute unjustified barriers to trade.
A letter of formal notice is the first step in an infringement procedure against an EEA State. The Icelandic Government has two months to reply to the letter.
EFTA Surveillance Authority may then deliver a reasoned opinion, which is the final step before the authority can refer the case to the EFTA Court.
EFTA sent a letter in 2011 asking Iceland to describe the Icelandic rules governing the importation of meat originating from third countries and from EEA States and why the arrangements are justified.
Iceland replied on 12 March 2012 with the reasons why it considers that the rules governing imports of meat are justified under the legislation and the precautionary principle.
Infection increase risk
In a further response, Iceland said its livestock is more exposed than animals in other European countries and an increase in imports of meat would increase the risk of infection.
EEA legislation only provides protection against known pathogens and not against those to which livestock in other countries have built up immunity while Icelandic livestock has not.
“It cannot be excluded that the importation of raw pork, broiler meat and beef from the European Union could have a negative impact on the public health in Iceland,” said a letter from Iceland to the authority in March 2012.
“The importation would probably lead to a higher proportion of meat on the market in Iceland, in which zoonotic agents would be present.
“In addition it is likely that the meat would contain more virulent strains of bacteria than has previously been detected in Iceland.”