VI. TRADE REGULATION AND STANDARDS

In Norway there are stringent import regulations on agricultural
commodities, approval requirements for telecommunications
equipment, and comprehensive labeling requirements for toxic
chemicals, as well as a host of new rules and regulation changes
occurring due to full implementation of the EEA in 1995.
Consequently it is very useful to have at least a Norwegian agent
if not a greater presence here to navigate the changing and
confusing shoals of new EEA regulations.
With this said Norway is heavily dependent on foreign trade, and
its trade policy is generally aimed at expanding its trade and
shipping services.  Norway as an EFTA/EEA member currently enjoys
an industrial free trade agreement with all EU member countries.
Norway is using the Harmonized  System (HS) for commodity
classification and generally, the import duties are relatively
low on products imported from third country suppliers.

There are few technical standards enforced where U.S. suppliers
so far have faced significant trade barriers, but some obstacles
have been experienced within some specialized electrical
equipment; but with more EEA regulations things will probably
become more complicated for small American exporters to Norway.
European CENELEC and BASEFA safety standards on electrical
equipment for use in hazardous areas are favored in North Sea oil
and gas production facilities and offshore exploration rigs.

ISO 9000 series:

Quality assurance is paramount for all equipment destined for the
Norwegian offshore market, and is generally preferred in the
inland market.  Norway has to a large degree adopted the ISO 9000
standards for quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC).

Electrical/Electronic Equipment:

Electrical equipment sold and used by the public (consumer
electronics and household electrical appliances) must have an
approval from NEMKO, or similar control establishments within the
EU:

Norwegian Electrical Control Board
(Norges Elektriske Materiellkontroll-NEMKO)
Gaustadalleen 30
0371 Oslo, Norway
Tel: 011 (47) 22 96 03 30
Fax: 011 (47) 22 69 86 36

Electric current throughout Norway is 50 cycle, 220 volt A.C;
single and three phase.

Toxic chemicals:

-A mandatory composition declaration being imposed on domestic and
foreign suppliers of chemical substances and products.

The new requirement calls for a 100 percent product composition
declaration to be filed and registered in the Product Register by
August, 1992.

These provisions are a direct continuation of the previous
requirements introduced in 1984 and 1989, governing the declaration
and labelling of very toxic, toxic and carcinogenic substances and
products.  These products must be declared to the Product Register
prior to import and production.

The fundamental principle is that all manufacturers and importers
of chemicals shall provide all the information required by the
Product Register.  In cases where foreign producers need to shelter
its detailed composition from the eyes of the importer, the foreign
producer may send the complete chemical composition directly to the
Product Register. One condition for accepting the above is that the
importer supply administrative information  "administrative data"
with reference to the information provided by the foreign supplier.
The Norwegian importer is nevertheless responsible for the
labelling of the product and the preparation of the Safety Data
Sheet.

In special instances, however, the Board of the Product Register
may grant a partial or total dispensation from the declaration
requirements.  Exemptions may be granted only for a specific
product/groups, and for a limited period of time.  The exemptions
will normally not be granted for more than three years at a time.
Special guidelines have been prepared in connection with the
various forms of dispensation, which may be obtained from the
Product Register:

Produktregisteret
(Chemical Product Register)
Ulvenveien 89 B
P.O.Box 8180 Dep
0034 Oslo, Norway
Contact: Mr. Finn Kornfeldt, Director
Telephone: (47) 22 64 48 10
Telefax: (47) 22 65 15 39

Publication:  "Declaration of Chemical Substances and Products" -
Guidelines (in English).

Safety Data Sheets:  An additional obligation for domestic
manufacturers or importers includes the preparation of a Safety
Data Sheet, sufficiently comprehensive for the customer/user to
handle the substance or a product in a safe manner.
Information regarding the "administrative data" and the Safety Data
Sheets may be obtained from:

Arbeidstilsynet
(Directorate of Labor Inspection)
Fridtjof Nansens vei 14
P.O.Box 8103 Dep
0032 Oslo, Norway
Contact: Mr. Jan-Erik Bjerk, Director
Telephone: (47) 22 95 70 00
Telefax: (47) 22 46 62 14

Questions concerning food products and food packaging regulations
may be directed to:

Naeringsmiddelkontrollen
(Food Industry/Packaging Regulations)
Gladengveien 3 B
0661 Oslo, Norway
Mailing address:
P.O.Box 8187 dep
0034 Oslo, Norway
Contact: Ms. Turid Hellstrom
Telephone: (47) 22 67 15 85
Telefax: (47) 22 19 95 31

Labelling Requirements:  Guidelines/Regulations governing required
labelling of chemical substances and products which may involve a
hazard to health may be obtained from:

Fabritius Forlag A/S
P.O.Box 1156
0107 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: (47) 22 63 74 00
Telefax: (47) 22 63 65 90