FuelEU Maritime could become applicable in Norway as early as 1 January 2026, the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) said in an update published on 12 December.
FuelEU Maritime entered into force in the EU on 1 January 2025 under Regulation (EU) 2023/1805, but its application in Norway depends on incorporation into the EEA Agreement.
While Norwegian authorities had previously indicated that this process was unlikely to be completed until sometime in spring 2026, the NMA said there is now a “real possibility” the regulation could take effect at very short notice.
The NMA said it has completed public consultations on the necessary amendments to Norwegian legislation and, together with the Ministry of Climate and Environment, decided it was necessary to alert affected parties despite ongoing uncertainty around the final timing.
Norway has sought to ensure simultaneous entry into force of FuelEU Maritime across the EU and EEA/EFTA states, but has so far not secured its formal incorporation into the EEA Agreement. Even so, the authority said a 1 January 2026 start date could offer technical and operational advantages for the maritime industry, particularly by aligning compliance with the start of a calendar year.
The NMA said it will update the industry as soon as a final decision is confirmed, warning that uncertainty over the exact entry-into-force date may pose operational and planning challenges for shipowners and operators trading to or from Norway.
