Faroese dairy producer seeks EU exemption to export to Iceland

The Faroese dairy company MBM has called on the government to negotiate an exception in Iceland’s trade agreement with the EU, allowing Faroese dairy products to enter the Icelandic market, Faroese Broadcasting Corporation (KVF) reports.

Faroese agricultural products currently lack EU certification, blocking their sale in Iceland under the existing Hoyvík Agreement, which requires all imported goods to meet EU standards. While Icelandic dairy products are widely available in the Faroe Islands, Faroese producers face closed doors in Iceland.

Tony Weyhe, managing director of MBM, urged authorities to push for a special exemption in the EU-Iceland agricultural pact. “There is interest in Faroese products in Iceland, and given that their market is significantly larger than ours, this would be highly beneficial for companies like MBM,” Weyhe stated.

The disparity stems from the Hoyvík Agreement, which mandates EU approval for all agricultural imports to Iceland—a requirement Faroese producers cannot meet.