Date: 2026-07-23Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 121/2026 of 30 April 2026 amending Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement [2026/1503]
**Executive Summary**
Decision No 121/2026 amends Annex II of the EEA Agreement to incorporate EU regulations regarding specific food additives and their specifications. The decision integrates updated standards for shellac and various thickening agents into EEA law to ensure regulatory alignment. It is scheduled to enter into force on 1 May 2026, provided all necessary notifications under the EEA Agreement have been made.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Incorporation of New Regulations**
* **Regulation (EU) 2026/189:** Incorporated to regulate the use of shellac (E 904) in food intended for special medical purposes, specifically in tablet and coated tablet forms.
* **Regulation (EU) 2026/196:** Incorporated to update the use and specifications for several additives, including carrageenan (E 407), locust bean gum (E 410), guar gum (E 412), gum arabic (E 414), xanthan gum (E 415), pectins (E 440), and starch sodium octenyl succinate (E 1450).
**Scope and Geographic Application**
* **Amendments:** The decision modifies Chapter XII of Annex II to the EEA Agreement by adding new references to the aforementioned regulations.
* **Liechtenstein Exclusion:** These foodstuff regulations do not apply to Liechtenstein as long as its agricultural trade agreement with the Swiss Confederation remains in effect.
**Authenticity and Implementation**
* **Language Versions:** The Icelandic and Norwegian texts of the regulations are deemed authentic and will be published in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union.
* **Effective Date:** The decision is set to take effect on 1 May 2026, contingent upon the completion of all notifications required under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement.
**Impact Analysis**
**EEA Member States (Iceland and Norway)**
**Impact:** These states must integrate the updated EU food additive standards into their domestic regulatory frameworks to maintain compliance with the EEA Agreement.
**Action Required:** Competent authorities must ensure all constitutional notifications are completed before the May 2026 deadline.
**Food and Medical Food Manufacturers**
**Impact:** Producers using shellac (E 904) or the specified gums and pectins (E 407, E 410, E 412, E 414, E 415, E 440, E 1450) are subject to updated usage rules and purity specifications.
**Action Required:** Quality control and formulation teams must review product compositions to ensure they meet the new technical standards and specifications.
**Liechtenstein**
**Impact:** The country is exempt from this specific decision regarding foodstuff legislation.
**Action Required:** No action is required as long as current agricultural trade arrangements with Switzerland persist.
Key Entities Referenced
EEA Agreement: The foundational framework for the European Economic Area whose Annex II regarding technical regulations and standards is amended by this decision.
EEA Joint Committee: The primary administrative body responsible for the management and amendment of the EEA Agreement.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/189: Legislation regulating the use of shellac in food for special medical purposes, incorporated into the EEA Agreement by this decision.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/196: Legislation concerning the use and specifications of various food additives including carrageenan and gums, incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
Liechtenstein: The specific territory excluded from the applicability of this decision due to existing trade agreements regarding agricultural products.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/1503 23.7.2026
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEENo 121/2026
of 30 April 2026
amending Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the
EEA Agreement [2026/1503]
THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (“the EEA Agreement”), and in particular Article 98
thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/189 of 28 January 2026 amending Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the
European Parliament and the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as regards the use of shellac (E
904) in food for special medical purposes in tablet and coated tablet forms(1) is to be incorporated into the EEA
Agreement.
(2) Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/196 of 28 January 2026 amending Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the
European Parliament and of the Council as regards the use of carrageenan (E 407), locust bean gum (E 410), guar
gum (E 412), gum arabic (acacia gum) (E 414), xanthan gum (E 415), pectins (E 440) and starch sodium octenyl
succinate (E 1450) and Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as regards specifications for locust bean gum (E
410), guar gum (E 412), gum arabic (acacia gum) (E 414), xanthan gum (E 415), pectins (E 440) and starch sodium
octenyl succinate (E 1450)(2)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(3) This Decision concerns legislation regarding foodstuffs. Legislation regarding foodstuffs shall not apply to
Liechtenstein as long as the application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss
Confederation on trade in agricultural products is extended to Liechtenstein, as specified in the introduction to
Chapter XII of Annex II to the EEA Agreement. This Decision is therefore not to apply to Liechtenstein.
(4) Annex II to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Chapter XII of Annex II to the EEA Agreement is amended as follows:
1. The following indent is added in points 54zzzzr (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of
the Council) and 69 (Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012):
‘— 32026 R 0189: Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/189 of 28 January 2026 (OJ L, 2026/189, 29.1.2026).’
2. The following indent is added in point 54zzzzr (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of
the Council):
‘— 32026 R 0196: Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/196 of 28 January 2026 (OJ L, 2026/196, 29.1.2026).’
Article 2
The texts of Regulations (EU) 2026/189 and (EU) 2026/196 in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in
the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.
(1) OJ L, 2026/189, 29.1.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/189/oj.
(2) OJ L, 2026/196, 29.1.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/196/oj.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1503/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 23.7.2026
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 1 May 2026, provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the EEA
Agreement have been made(*).
Article 4
This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European
Union.
Done at Brussels, 30 April 2026.
For the EEA Joint Committee
The President
Nicolas VON LINGEN
(*) No constitutional requirements indicated.
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1503/oj