EU regulations also establish the framework for Norwegian regulatory design in other areas, for example related to the processing of personal data, coverage of expenses for healthcare received in other EEA countries and approval of education and qualifications of healthcare personnel.

Norwegian participation in EU health collaboration

Norway participates in several EU agencies in the area of ​​health and food safety. These include the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Furthermore, Norway participates in EU/EEA cooperation in areas such as cancer, antimicrobial resistance, digital health as well as research and innovation.

The coronavirus pandemic caused the EU to rethink its health preparedness and how working across sectors and borders can support the goal of being better prepared for the next health crisis. A number of concrete measures have been implemented to that end:

  • The mandates of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have been strengthened.
  • Cooperation on serious cross-border health threats have been strengthened.
  • A health preparedness and crisis management authority for medical countermeasures HERA (ec.europa.eu) has been established.

HERA coordinates crises and preparedness

HERA will both operate in preparedness mode and be prepared to handle a health related crisis with regards to medical countermeasures (MCMs). In the event of the next crisis, HERA is responsible for developing, producing, acquiring and distributing the necessary MCMs to meet Europe's needs.

This could be anything from medicines and vaccines to diagnostics and other medical equipment. In addition, HERA is playing an important role in the coordinated European effort towards assisting Ukraine in the field of health.

Engaging in health preparedness and crisis response

Norway is closely linked to the EU's health preparedness and crisis response, and this cooperation was crucial to the national response to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the need to come up with ad hoc solutions renders Norway in a vulnerable position. Norway is working actively to participate in the EU's strengthened cooperation on health preparedness and crisis response, and is currently engaged in negotiations with the European Commission in order to enter into an agreement to that end.

Access to medicines, including vaccines, is fundamental in managing a health crisis. This is one of the priority areas of the European Commission and the EU's medicines strategy.

Drug shortages are a significant problem both in Norway and internationally. Such shortages have recently received increasing attention and work on drug preparedness has been intensified. Production problems, deregistration and an unattractive Norwegian market are the main reasons in many situations, in addition to problems with the distribution of drugs or the resale of drugs.

EU4Health – EU's fourth health programme

During 2021–2027, Norwegian participation in the EU's fourth health programme (health.ec.europa.eu) is an important pathway for cooperation with the EU. Norwegian investment in the programme provides access to European cooperation on health preparedness, management of health crises and solutions that contribute to resilient health systems and improved public health in Norway and Europe.

Cooperation on preparedness and management of cross-border health threats is central. At the same time, work is carried out on a new plan against non-communicable diseases (to be completed in 2022), and on the development of systems and digital solutions, preventive health work, knowledge sharing and innovation.

From farm to fork

Norway is implementing the EU's strategy for the food chain called From farm to fork (food.ec.europa.eu). The strategy intends to help EU agriculture provide nutritious, affordable and safe food of high quality in a more sustainable way.

The EU is also seeking to improve the transparency and sustainability of risk assessments that have a direct or indirect impact on the safety of, among other things, the food and feed chain.

The regulation of the activities and approval processes of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been changed, and Norwegian authorities are following up on this work.