Based on the recommendation of the Working Group on Customs Matters, the Committee appointed Ms Susann Nilsen (Norway) as Chair and Mr Ogmundur Hrafn Magnusson as Vice-Chair of the Working Group. Ms Marianne Guettler Monrad (Norway) was appointed Chair of the Working Group on Public Procurement.

The Work Programme for the Norwegian Chair during the second half of 2009 was discussed, where the efficient incorporation of new legislative acts into the EEA Agreement is one of the main focus areas. One of the policy areas particularly emphasised in the Work Programme, which is relevant to Subcommittee I, is the Climate and Energy Package. The Work Programme states that it is essential to maintain a good dialogue with the Commission regarding the relevant aspects of the Package and participate as extensively as possible in the EU’s comitology work as part of the implementation process.

The Secretariat informed the Committee of a recent meeting organised by the Swedish Presidency relating to the New Legal Framework for the Marketing of Products, where a high degree of importance was attached to more effective and targeted market surveillance. It was especially emphasised that resources should not be cut in this area during the financial crisis. The Commission and the European Parliament are both conducting studies on market surveillance. The EFTA states have been particularly active and keep a high profile in this area.

With regard to the Pan-Euro-Med Free Trade System to the Western Balkans, the Secretariat informed the Committee that a follow-up from the Istanbul 2008 meeting is scheduled in Montenegro for 6-8 October 2009. The Commission remains hopeful that the Regional Origin Convention will be approved by the Pan-Euro-Med Working Group in autumn 2009. The final system could potentially be in place by the end of 2010.

Regarding standardisation, eight mandates were approved by Subcommittee I at the meeting, one of which deals with the important topic of toy safety. Moreover, EFTA is closely following the work of the expert panel for the elaboration of strategic recommendations “2020: Outlook for European standardisation” (EXPRESS) and will take part in World Standards Day on 14 October in Brussels, where the panel’s preliminary report will be discussed with stakeholders.

The Food Law Package and related items were also discussed at the Committee meeting. The Package has yet to enter into force, due to parliamentary procedures in the EEA EFTA Member States.