The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today authorised Norway to prolong, for a second time, a temporary exemption from EEA rules on driving and resting times. This will ensure continued circulation of goods during the COVID-19 pandemic, by enabling road transport drivers entering the country to undertake quarantine in vehicles.

EEA Law lays down rules for driving times, breaks and rest periods for drivers that carry goods and passengers by road. The objective of these rules is to harmonise conditions for drivers, ensuring equal competition, and to improve working conditions and road safety.

EEA EFTA States may, after authorisation from ESA, grant exceptions from the requirements on driving and resting times for road transport operations carried out under exceptional circumstances.

In light of prolonged containment measures to safeguard public health, Norway continues to require a 10-day mandatory quarantine for all persons entering its territory. Acknowledging the need to ensure the seamless circulation of goods, while at the same time protecting public health, ESA authorises Norway to allow transport drivers of trucks carrying goods to rest in their vehicles while undergoing travel quarantine.

On 10 December 2020, ESA authorised Norway to introduce a temporary exception, from 11 December 2020 until 1 February 2021, which allowed road transport drivers to take their weekly rest inside a vehicle with suitable accommodation. The authorisation was prolonged on 27 January 2021 until 1 April 2021.

Today, ESA has authorised Norway to prolong this exception from the requirements on driving and resting times until 1 June 2021.

ESA’s decision can be found here.