The keeping of exotic reptiles in Norway

While importing and owning exotic reptiles with very few exceptions were prohibited in Norway through the regulation concerning exotic reptiles under the 1976 Animal Welfare Law, in 2017 owning reptiles was decriminalized through a decision made by the Food Safety Authority. As of August 15, 2017, 19 reptile species can be kept as pets, and thus are made exempt from the prohibition of §2 of the regulation against the import and keeping of exotic reptiles. ¹ Norway had, together with Iceland, been the only country in Europe that generally prohibited importing and keeping exotic reptiles, and this change has resulted in challenges for Customs (see Sollund 2013a), and in the future it may also impact trafficking in endangered reptile species.