New sanctions against Russia incorporated into Norwegian law

‘It is essential that we respond to Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine. Norway will continue to stand with the EU in imposing hard-hitting sanctions on Russia,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt. 

The new package of sanctions further tightens the restrictions on goods and services that are of importance to Russia. The wide-ranging packages of sanctions that have been introduced are intended to reduce Russia’s ability to finance its illegal war in Ukraine.

‘The opportunities to engage in commercial activities with Russia have now been significantly curtailed and carry a high risk,’ said Ms Huitfeldt.

Facts about the new sanctions against Russia   

• A further 141 individuals and 49 entities have been added to the list of natural and legal persons subject to restrictive measures. These listings have already been implemented in Norwegian law.
• As part of the effort to combat global food insecurity, an exemption was introduced making it possible to authorise the release of frozen assets belonging to, and to make funds and economic resources available to, individuals who held a significant role in international trade in agricultural and food products, prior to their listing (section 6b).
• The Russian Regional Development Bank has been added to the list of Russian state-owned entities that are subject to the transaction ban (section 8ca).
• A ban on individuals holding any posts on the governing bodies of Russian state-owned or controlled legal persons (section 8ca).
• New export restrictions have been imposed on dual-use goods and technology (section 16), as well as on goods and technology that can contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defence and security sector (section 16a). A further 168 entities have been added to the list of entities connected to Russia’s military and industrial complex, including certain Russian-controlled entities in Crimea or Sevastopol.
• Expansion of the prohibition targeting investments in the Russian energy sector, to include new investments in the Russian mining sector (section 17a).
• Expansion of the export ban on goods and technology suited for use in aviation and the space industry, to include aircraft engines and their parts (section 17c).
• Expansion of the restrictions on providing consulting services, to include market research and public opinion polling services, technical testing and analysis services and advertising services to the Russian Government or to legal persons established in Russia (section 19c).
• In addition to the amendments made to incorporate the new restrictions included in the EU’s ninth package of sanctions, Norway has made amendments to sections 17g and 17h of the regulation to specify that it is permitted to transfer and purchase listed goods internally in Norway, and to purchase, import and transfer listed goods from the EU to Norway. In the EU, goods that have been imported to the EU prior to their listing or during a transition period may circulate freely on the EU market. As Norway is not part of the EU customs union, an amendment was necessary to harmonise application of the import rules in Norway and the EU.

Guidelines for the business sector  

Guidelines for the business sector issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be found at mfa.no (Norwegian only) and will be updated.   

Amended regulations

The sanctions adopted by the EU have been implemented in Norwegian law through amendments to the relevant regulations.      

For more information about the full sanctions package, see the regulation (PDF, Norwegian only).

The amendments to the regulations will enter into force immediately and will be published on Lovdata.