Distributing a product

Market shares

Hagar, the biggest retailer is an Icelandic corporation of Baugur Group. Hagar also owns retailer and wholesale companies in Iceland, Sweden and Denmark.

Organizations in the retail sector

Federation of trade and services

We can identify professional tradeshows on your sector.

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Main International economic cooperation

Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement.

The country has signed a large number of multilateral an bilateral agreements.

Non tariff barriers

Iceland enjoys some of the strongest economic freedoms among all countries Nevertheless, Iceland is very protectionist as regards to the import of farm products and licenses as well as state monopolies of imports (undergoing a dismantling). Some plant products such as potatoes and flowers are subject to seasonal limitations.

Customs duties and taxes on imports

Iceland implements high tariffs on agricultural products in order to protect the domestic agricultural sector. Tariffs on certain varieties of vegetables, e.g. tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers are significantly higher during the growing season to protect domestic greenhouse producers. Meat and dairy products, and potatoes are also protected by substantial duties. Animal feed can carry tariffs up to 55%.
Visit the Directorate of Customs website.

Customs classification

Iceland applies the Harmonised Customs System of codification and description of the goods. Customs duties are calculated ad valorem (and apply only to farm products of EU member countries). There is no exchange control on the settlement of imported goods. The customs policy is enforced by the Directorate of Customs.

Import procedures

Required documents are listed below:

- Bill of lading

- Certificate of origin

- Cargo release order

- Commercial invoice

- Customs import declaration

- Packing list

Importing samples

Samples may be imported without paying any tax if their value is not high, and they cannot be sold or used. However, samples must be declared at Customs on arrival in the country. To import samples, you must fill in an ATA carnet, a document that facilitates Customs procedures.

For further information

The directorate of Customs

We can indicate you which are the customs duties applied to your product.

Find out the local taxes that apply to your product.

Organizing goods transport

Main useful means of transport

Coastal sea travel is reserved only for transportation of goods and even so, it is giving way to transportation by trucks. Transportation of goods got almost completely off the sea and on the roads when Iceland's shipping companies quit their scheduled cargo-ship transportation around Iceland from Reykjavik and emphasized on truck transportation of goods.

Ports

Ports of Iceland

Airports

Keflavik airport

Sea transport organizations

Icelandic Maritime Administration

Air transport organizations

Icelandic civil aviation administation

Road transport organizations

Icelandic Road Administration

Rail transport organizations

Get a ballpark figure for transportation costs for your product in this country through a shipping estimate.

Identifying a supplier

Type of production

The main sectors of Icelandic industry are its natural resources: fishing, hydraulic and geothermal energy. The IT and new technologies sector has also experienced strong development over the last few years. Industry employs more than 21% of the population.

Business directories

Europe Bloombiz
Iceland Trade Directory

Manufacturers associations of the main industries

Food industries in Iceland
Aquaculture association
Iceland Oil
The Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners 
The Farmers Association of Iceland

Trade Agencies and their representations abroad

Iceland Chamber of Commerce

Enterprises federation

The Federation of Icelandic Industries
SA-Confederation of Icelandic Employers
Federation of Trade & Services

Standards

National standards organizations

IST

Integration in the international standards network

The organization responsible for norms and certificates of compliance is Icelandic Standards (Stadlarad). IST is a member of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Classification of standards

The Icelandis standards are the IST. Iceland observes the classification of international standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Online consultation of standards

To look up standards on line, visit the website of Icelandic Standards or the website of ISO.

Certification organizations

Icelandic Standards: organization for certification and standardization

Find out the standards and labelling requirements that apply to your products.

Intellectual Property

National organizations

The organisation in charge of the protection of intellectual property in Iceland is the Patent Office of Iceland (Einkaleyfastofan) Iceland signed the Paris Agreement regarding the protection of industrial property and the agreement which established the World Intellectual property Organization (WIPO). As for patents, the country adheres to the Munich Agreement for European patents, as well as to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Iceland did not sign the Madrid Agreement concerning the international register of trademarks but adhered to the 1989 protocol , which came into force in Iceland on January 1st, 1997.