The Food Law Package consists of five JCDs which incorporate fundamental legislation in the area of general food law, hygiene and control in food production and animal by-products. A general review of the veterinary legislation applicable to Iceland is also part of the Package.

With the entry into force of the Food Law Package, essential food law is now harmonised within the EEA. The legislation in the Package introduces general principles for food production such as traceability, risk analysis and a precautionary approach. The legislation also sets out responsibilities and requirements for food business operators, and the EEA EFTA Member States are ensured participation in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Several other JCDs in the food and veterinary area that have been on hold, awaiting the entry into force of the Food Law Package, will also enter into force on 1 May 2010. Iceland will have an 18-month transitional period to transpose legislation in areas which have not yet been applicable to Iceland.

The EU Internal Market offers huge potential. Any business in the EEA automatically has more than 500 million potential customers on its doorstep. The Services Directive will help businesses, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to make use of the opportunities available to them. Consumers in the EEA will also benefit significantly from the effects of the Directive.

The main benefits of the Services Directive will be:

• the removal of obstacles and lightening of procedures for setting up a business in the EEA

• the removal of obstacles to the cross-border provision of services in the EEA

• the setting up of "Points of Single Contact", which are contact points through which businesses can obtain information and complete administrative paperwork in each EEA State

To help you find the Point of Single Contact (PSC) in each EEA State, the Commission has launched a "Point of Single Contact webgate". This webgate serves as a central entry point and provides links to all national PSC portals. To access the webgate, please go to: http://ec.europa.eu/eu-go.

The entry into force of an EEA JCD formally entitles the EFTA Surveillance Authority to ensure that the Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway transpose the corresponding EU legislation into national law. Only then will the EU directives and regulations also apply to citizens and organisations in the three EEA EFTA countries.