Market
Raisins in Norway are a shelf-stable dried-fruit product primarily supplied through imports for retail snacking and home baking as well as bakery and food-manufacturing uses. As an EEA market, Norway’s commercial imports are shaped by EU/EEA-aligned food-safety rules (notably contaminant and residue compliance) and by Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) import notification procedures for consignments from third countries. The most consequential compliance risks for the category are mycotoxins in dried vine fruit (e.g., ochratoxin A) and ingredient/allergen labelling accuracy when sulphites are used. Market availability is generally year-round due to the product’s storability and diversified origin sourcing.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market (net importer)
Domestic RoleDomestic consumption market with no significant primary production; demand is supplied mainly via imports and in-country packing/repacking
SeasonalityYear-round availability via imports; supply is less seasonal than fresh fruit due to drying and storage.
Risks
Food Safety HighMycotoxin non-compliance (notably ochratoxin A) in dried vine fruits is a deal-breaker risk in the EEA market: exceedances can trigger border rejection, withdrawals/recalls, and retailer delisting in Norway.Use approved suppliers with validated drying/storage controls; require lot-specific COAs and periodic third-party mycotoxin testing aligned to EU/EEA limits before release to market.
Regulatory Compliance MediumPre-notification and routing requirements for consignments from third countries (including cases where TRACES NT is required for certain categories such as non-animal risk products or organic consignments) can cause delays or non-compliance findings if handled incorrectly.Confirm the correct notification pathway with Mattilsynet (forms vs. TRACES NT) for the specific consignment and origin; submit within the required timeline and keep CHED/notification references aligned with shipment documents.
Labelling MediumIf sulphur dioxide/sulphites are used as preservatives, incomplete or incorrect ingredient/allergen labelling can result in enforcement action and recalls in Norway under EEA-aligned food information rules.Verify additive use declarations and allergen presentation for sulphites against the current EU/EEA food information rules; conduct label approval and translation checks before first shipment.
Supply Chain Due Diligence MediumHuman-rights due diligence expectations under Norway’s Transparency Act can create reputational and commercial risk if upstream grape/raisin sourcing involves high-risk labor contexts and the importer lacks documented mitigation.Map supply chains to farm/processor level where feasible, apply OECD-aligned due diligence, and maintain documented risk assessments and corrective-action follow-up for higher-risk origins.
Logistics LowMoisture ingress, odour contamination, and insect infestation during long-haul storage/transport can downgrade quality and increase the likelihood of non-conformities at buyer inspection.Specify dry, clean containers; use appropriate liners/desiccants where needed; apply incoming QC (sensory, moisture/aw, foreign matter) and maintain proper warehouse pest-control.
Sustainability- Climate and water-stress exposure in key grape-growing regions supplying the Norwegian market can affect availability and quality (e.g., smaller berries, higher defect rates) and raise irrigation stewardship scrutiny.
- Pesticide-residue compliance against EU/EEA maximum residue limits (MRLs) is a recurring sustainability/compliance intersection for dried fruit supply.
Labor & Social- Norway’s Transparency Act (Åpenhetsloven) increases due-diligence expectations for larger enterprises on human rights and decent working conditions in supply chains, including agricultural inputs such as grapes used for raisins.
- Child-labour risks have been documented for grapes in some origin countries by international labor monitoring (origin-specific risk screening is needed for raisin supply chains).
Standards- BRCGS Food Safety
- IFS Food
- FSSC 22000
FAQ
What is the biggest food-safety compliance risk for raisins sold in Norway?Mycotoxin compliance is the most critical risk, especially ochratoxin A in dried vine fruits. EU/EEA contaminant rules set maximum levels for dried vine fruits (raisins/sultanas/currants), and non-compliance can lead to rejection, withdrawals, or recalls.
Do raisins imported from outside the EU/EEA need to be pre-notified in Norway?Yes. Mattilsynet states that consignments imported from third countries must be pre-notified, with the notification route depending on product category. Some categories (including certain non-animal risk products and organic consignments) use TRACES NT, while non-animal origin products in general may be notified via Mattilsynet’s form services.
If sulphites are used in raisins, what labelling issue matters most in Norway?Accurate ingredient and allergen information is essential. Under the EU/EEA food information regulation, sulphur dioxide and sulphites are among the substances that require clear allergen presentation when present above the relevant threshold, so labels must correctly declare them when used.