Updated July 2026: This guide has been revised to reflect that green tea enters Norway duty-free (0% under HS heading 0902); that Norway's reduced food VAT (MVA) is 15%, with the 25% standard rate reserved for other goods; that the post-Fukushima radiation import controls on Japanese food were lifted by Norway on 3 August 2023; and that JAS-certified organic Japanese tea can be sold as "organic" under the EU-Japan organic equivalence refreshed by Regulation (EU) 2025/883 (applicable 18 May 2025), with a TRACES e-certificate required per consignment.

Coffee has been keeping the Norwegians warm for a long time, but now they are shifting to another hot beverage that can satisfy their palates – tea. The consumption of coffee is still pretty high, but as Norwegians realize the health benefits of tea, they are starting to change their preferences. Plus, they need much more than just plain black tea. Organic Japanese tea is the kind of tea that can not only boost your sales but also satiates every Norwegian’s palate.

Would Organic Japanese tea be able to make its mark in Norway?

Organic Japanese tea can do a lot more than just leave its mark on Norwegians. A flavorsome tea reaches the heart of a person and impacts the soul, which is what organic Japanese tea is capable of. The production of Japanese tea dates back to the 8^th century, and since then, it has been satiating the palates of people with its exotic taste and flavor.

Japanese tea can leave its mark primarily because of its manufacturing process. Norwegians are on a hunt to find the tea that not only has taste but beauty as well, and organic Japanese tea can deliver both. The manufacturing process includes the oxidation of the tea leaves that retains the tea’s flavor, beauty, and color. So, no matter how many times you make Japanese tea, you’ll get the same exhilarating flavor.

So, if you want to start your tea business in this growing market of Norway, organic Japanese tea proves to be an excellent way to start your journey with. But, how can you import organic Japanese tea to Norway? Let’s find out.

How to import organic Japanese tea to Norway?

Norway has very stringent rules and regulations that need to be followed if you want to import organic Japanese tea to Norway. You first need to acquire an Economic Operator Identification and Registration (EORI) number. This number is important when it comes to lodging a Summary Declaration to the customs authorities. EORI can also help you acquire an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) that can allow you to acquire quick access to the procedures of the Norway customs.

When goods enter the country, they must remain at the customs territory till all the formalities are cleared. The customs authorities will only let your goods into the territory if you provide Summary Declaration to the customs officials. This declaration contains all the information regarding your products and it must be presented at the time of your goods’ arrival. The customs authorities of Norway will provide you with a form on which you can make your Summary Declaration.

Another thing that you can use as a declaration to allow the free flow of goods in the country is the Single Administrative Document. This document allows the free movement of goods all around the country and it also describes what kind of product you’re importing. It is valid in all the states of Norway and it is generally made by someone who’s either the importer or an agent who’s representing the import on behalf of the importer.

Customs or Import Duty Tax in Norway

If you want your goods to enter Norway, it is viable to pay all the taxes and duties incurred on your import, otherwise, your goods will cease to flow into the Norwegian market. The customs or import duty tax is applied on the entire cost of the imports, including the cost of the product, insurance cost, shipment cost, etc.

Let’s take a look at all the taxes incurred on importing tea to Norway.

Business Number Registration

If you want to safely conduct your business in Norway, you need to register your business with Bronnøysund Register Center and acquire a Norwegian National Identity Number or D-number. You can get your D-number online. For this, you need to complete a form known as Samordnet registermelding (Coordinated Register Notification) and send your application to the Business Registry.

The Business Registry will hold onto your application and once everything is clarified, the Business Registrar will send your application to the Citizen Registry. This is how your organization number is set up and once all your numbers are finalized, the application will be sent back to the Business Registry which will provide you with your registration number. With the help of this number, you connect with the government and can freely flow goods into and out of the market. There are about three kinds of corporate structures currently known in Norway. They are:

• Private Limited Company (AS)
• Public Limited Company (ASA)
• Branch Office of a Foreign Country

If the annual turnover of your business exceeds NOK 50,000, you will also need to register for VAT. But, before this amount, you don’t need to charge VAT on any goods or services.

FAQs

Who can present the Summary Declaration to the customs officials of Norway?

The Summary Declaration is presented by the person who imported goods into the country. It can also be the person who’s made responsible for the carriage of goods or the person whose name is referred to on the declaration.

How to calculate the import duty tax on importing tea to Norway?

If you know the HS-CODE of the product, you can easily calculate the import duty tax on that particular product. In the case of green tea, the HS heading is 0902 — more precisely 0902.10 for tea in immediate packings of 3 kg (6.6 lb) or less, and 0902.20 for tea in bulk packings above that.

Now, imagine you import huge amounts of organic Japanese tea to Norway. The total cost comes out to be NOK 15,000 with the insurance cost of NOK 7,000. This value exceeds the low-value threshold, so import taxes will apply.

For green tea, the good news is that the customs duty rate is 0%: tea falls under HS heading 0902, and because it is not grown commercially in Norway it is not among the protected agricultural goods that carry high duties. So on the example consignment worth NOK 15,000 plus NOK 7,000 insurance (NOK 22,000 in total), you would pay no customs duty on the tea itself. You should still confirm the current rate for your exact eight-digit tariff line in Norway’s customs tariff (Tolltariffen), or run the numbers through the toll.no import calculator, at the time of import, since rates can change. Value-added tax (MVA) still applies: tea sold as a retail grocery food is charged at Norway’s reduced 15% food rate rather than the 25% standard rate, and import VAT is calculated on the customs value of the goods.

Does green tea pay customs duty when it enters Norway?

Green tea enters Norway duty-free. Tea sits under HS heading 0902 (0902.10 for retail packs of 3 kg / 6.6 lb or less, and 0902.20 for bulk above that), and because tea is not grown commercially in Norway it is not one of the protected agricultural goods that carry high Norwegian duties, so the customs rate is 0%. Norway belongs to the EEA single market but sits outside the EU customs union, so goods already in free circulation in the EU do not automatically clear into Norway, and there is no free-trade agreement between Japan and Norway (or between Japan and EFTA). None of that changes the tea rate, though, because Norway’s standard most-favoured-nation duty on tea is already 0%. Confirm the exact eight-digit line in Norway’s customs tariff (Tolltariffen) or the toll.no import calculator before you ship.

Are there still radiation controls on Japanese tea after Fukushima?

No. The post-Fukushima import restrictions on Japanese food were lifted by the EU, Norway and Iceland on 3 August 2023. You no longer need radiation-sampling certificates or a prefecture-of-origin declaration to bring Japanese green tea into Norway. Ordinary food-safety rules still apply, so the tea has to meet the same pesticide and contaminant limits as any other food sold on the Norwegian market.

Do I need special certification to sell Japanese tea as “organic” in Norway?

Yes. Through the EEA agreement Norway applies the EU organic regulation, Regulation (EU) 2018/848, and Debio is the body that inspects and certifies organic products in Norway on behalf of Mattilsynet. Japan is on the list of non-EU countries recognised for organic equivalence on plant products, which covers green tea, so tea certified organic under the Japanese JAS standard can be sold as “organic” in Norway. That recognition was refreshed by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/883, which has applied since 18 May 2025. In practice, each consignment of organic tea needs a valid electronic Certificate of Inspection (e-COI) issued in the EU TRACES system.

Which authority oversees food imports, and do I need to register?

Food imports are overseen by Mattilsynet, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Food importers and food businesses must be registered with Mattilsynet, and consignments can be subject to its checks. Because Norwegian food law is harmonised with EU rules through the EEA agreement, the same pesticide maximum residue limits, contaminant limits and food-labelling requirements that apply in the EU also apply to tea sold in Norway.

What are the requirements to set up a Private Limited Company (AS) in Norway?

There are some legal requirements that you need to fulfill in order to run a Private Limited Company (AS) in Norway. It must have:

• A minimum of one board member should be elected by general meeting from a bunch of board of directors
• State the highest and lowest number of members of the company
• One half of the board of directors must be citizens of Norway or any other EEA/EU country
• Annual accounts must be audited every 6 months

How much does it cost to set up a Private Limited Company (AS) in Norway?

To establish a Private Limited Company (AS) in Norway, you’ll need to take €1,500 from your bank account to obtain your D-number. After this, you’ll have to pay about €600 to €700 (NOK 5,570 to NOK 6,797) to the company registry of Norway. Finally, you’ll need to submit a minimum share capital of about NOK 30,000 in the bank account but this money will remain yours.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, Norwegians were caffeine lovers, but today, the tea market is dominating. This can prove to be the right time to pitch in and make your mark in this market. Organic Japanese tea is one of the most scrumptious and flavorful teas in the entire world. It has the capability to draw all Norwegians towards its rich taste and flavor.

Therefore, you need to start importing this heavenly beverage to Norway and leave everyone astounded with just one sip. However, make sure that you know everything about the import rules and regulations of Norway before you start importing these treats.

Need Assistance on Japanese Tea Importation?

This shipping and importation of Japanese tea in your country have been a long-standing service that we offer. Therefore, if you are interested in Japanese Tea importation either as a business or you simply want to have a taste of quality, authentic Japanese tea, you may contact us through this website, and we are more than happy to assist you. Click here to contact Green Tea Merchant.

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