Based on the recommendation of the Working Group on Customs Matters, the Committee appointed Mr. Daniel Keller (Liechtenstein) as Chair and Mrs. Susann Nilsen (Norway) as Vice-Chair of the Working Group.

The EEA EFTA Member States reported on parliamentary procedures for 12 EEA Joint Committee Decisions that have yet to enter into force, including the EFSA / Food Law Package. Ten of the JCDs are still awaiting parliamentary approval in Iceland.

With regard to the placing of plant protection products (PPP) on the market, the Secretariat indicated that on 13 January 2009 the European Parliament approved a proposal for a new regulation, which is likely to be adopted by the Council shortly. Hitherto, legislation on placing of PPP on the market has been considered EEA relevant but not been incorporated into the agreement, as the EEA EFTA Member States have had stricter rules than the EU. The current question, which must be analysed by experts, is whether the recently proposed legislation will be substantially stricter than the old legislation, making an exemption for the EEA EFTA Member States unnecessary in the future. The proposal has been heavily debated and stakeholders from the industry, as well as some MEPs, believe the new proposal goes too far. The majority, however, claim that the objections are exaggerated and that the proposal strikes the right balance.

In the field of energy, the Secretariat informed that the Third Legislation Package is currently in the second reading in the European Parliament, and that the Renewable Directive is likely to be adopted and published in April 2009.

The Secretariat also reported that the draft JCD on customs security measures (Protocol 10) is currently being informally reviewed by the Commission. The aim is to have the legislation in place before 1 July 2009.