Date: 2026-07-23Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 134/2026 of 30 April 2026 amending Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement [2026/1488]
**Executive Summary**
Decision No 134/2026 of the EEA Joint Committee, adopted on 30 April 2026, amends Annex II of the EEA Agreement to incorporate several EU regulations concerning active substances. The decision updates technical standards for low-risk substances, modifies approval conditions, and extends approval periods for various chemical agents. The decision is scheduled to enter into force on 1 May 2026, provided all required notifications under the EEA Agreement have been made.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Incorporation of Implementing Regulations**
* **Regulation (EU) 2026/312:** Renews the approval of maltodextrin as a low-risk active substance and amends existing regulations accordingly.
* **Regulation (EU) 2026/321:** Amends the conditions of approval for the active substance maleic hydrazide.
* **Regulation (EU) 2026/372:** Extends the approval periods for a broad range of active substances, including but not limited to boscalid, malathion, pyrethrins, sulphur, and thymol.
**Amendments to Annex II**
* **Point 13a Updates:** Adds references to Regulations (EU) 2026/312, (EU) 2026/321, and (EU) 2026/372 under the technical regulations for plant protection products.
* **Point 13zzzzzzzy Updates:** Incorporates the amendments to the conditions of approval established by Regulation (EU) 2026/321.
* **New Points:** Inserts point 13zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzr to specifically address the renewal of maltodextrin as a low-risk substance.
**Administrative Provisions**
* **Language Authenticity:** The texts of the incorporated regulations are confirmed as authentic in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages.
* **Publication Requirements:** The decision and its supplements must be published in the EEA Section of the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Impact Analysis**
**EEA Member States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway)**
**Impact**
These states are legally bound to incorporate the updated technical regulations regarding active substances into their internal legal frameworks.
**Action Required**
Member States must fulfill all notification requirements under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement to facilitate the entry into force of the decision.
**Manufacturers and Distributors of Active Substances**
**Impact**
The legal status, approval conditions, and expiration dates for numerous active substances—specifically those used in plant protection—have been modified or extended.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders must ensure their products and chemical applications comply with the renewed approval conditions for maleic hydrazide and the low-risk classification of maltodextrin.
**EEA Joint Committee and Administrative Bodies**
**Impact**
The committee is responsible for the formal alignment of technical standards across the European Economic Area.
**Action Required**
The Committee must oversee the publication of the decision in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Entities Referenced
EEA Agreement: The framework treaty between the EU and EFTA states; its Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) is amended by this decision.
EEA Joint Committee: The primary intergovernmental body responsible for managing the EEA Agreement and adopting decisions to incorporate EU legislation into the agreement.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011: The specific EU regulation listing approved active substances for plant protection products, which is updated by this decision.
Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009: The principal EU act concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and the approval of active substances.
European Economic Area (EEA): The geographic and economic region where the technical regulations regarding active substances and plant protection are made applicable by this decision.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/1488 23.7.2026
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEENo 134/2026
of 30 April 2026
amending Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement
[2026/1488]
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 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/312 of 10 February 2026 renewing the approval of the active
substance maltodextrin as a low-risk active substance in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the
European Parliament and of the Council, and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU)
No 540/2011(1)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/321 of 12 February 2026 amending Implementing Regulations
(EU) 2017/1506 and (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the conditions of approval of the active substance maleic
hydrazide(2)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/372 of 20 February 2026 amending Implementing Regulation
(EU) No 540/2011 as regards the extension of the approval periods of the active substances 1-decanol, 1-naphthyla
cetamide, 1-naphthylacetic acid, 6-benzyladenine, aluminium sulfate, boscalid, dodine, esfenvalerate, eugenol,
fenpyroximate, fluazifop-P, fluazinam, fluometuron, fluopyram, flutolanil, geraniol, malathion, penoxsulam,
pinoxaden, prohexadione, proquinazid, prosulfuron, pyrethrins, pyridaben, pyrimethanil, sintofen, spiroxamine,
sulphur and thymol(3)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(4) Annex II to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Chapter XV of Annex II to the EEA Agreement is amended as follows:
1. The following indents are added in point 13a (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011):
‘— 32026 R 0312: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/312 of 10 February 2026 (OJ L, 2026/312,
11.2.2026),
— 32026 R 0321: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/321 of 12 February 2026 (OJ L, 2026/321,
13.2.2026),
— 32026 R 0372: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/372 of 20 February 2026 (OJ L, 2026/372,
23.2.2026).’
2. The following is added in point 13zzzzzzzy (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1506):
‘, as amended by:
— 32026 R 0321: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/321 of 12 February 2026 (OJ L, 2026/321,
13.2.2026).’
(1) OJ L, 2026/312, 11.2.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/312/oj.
(2) OJ L, 2026/321, 13.2.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/321/oj.
(3) OJ L, 2026/372, 23.2.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/372/oj.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1488/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 23.7.2026
3. The following point is inserted after point 13zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzq (Commission Implementing Regulation
(EU) 2025/2313):
‘13zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzr. 32026 R 0312: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/312 of 10 February 2026
renewing the approval of the active substance maltodextrin as a low-risk active substance in
accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the
Council, and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 (OJ L,
2026/312, 11.2.2026).’
Article 2
The texts of Implementing Regulations (EU) 2026/312, (EU) 2026/321 and (EU) 2026/372 in the Icelandic and Norwegian
languages, to be published in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.
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/2026/1488/oj