Mowi argues that the salmon tax violates EEA rules on free movement, including capital, and is competition-distorting and discriminatory.
On Thursday, Mowi, the world’s largest aquaculture company, faced the Norwegian state in the Bergen district court over the so-called salmon tax implemented last year.
The tax at a rate of 25 per cent was adopted on 31 May by the Norwegian parliament retroactive from 1 January 2023.
In opposing the tax, Mowi has based the lawsuit on the EEA agreement’s competition rules.
The session, reported by Norwegian newspaper Bergens Tidende (BT), opened with Vindheim responding to questions from his lawyer, Bjørn Stordrange.
The lawsuit aims to challenge the tax, with Stordrange indicating in court that the company is seeking to have it completely removed.
Vindheim claimed that the ground rent tax, which had a one-off effect of NOK 2.6 billion ($240 million) and a cash effect of NOK 612 million ($57 million) for Mowi, stopped the company from setting new records.
He argued that the tax impacted investments in new production permits, with Mowi’s recent positive results attributed to high salmon prices.
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Two potential outcomes were proposed: either pass the law without the minimum deduction or set aside the entire law. Mowi has requested the latter, arguing that the tax violates the EEA rules on free movement, including capital, and is competition-distorting and discriminatory.
The court will now determine whether the case will proceed immediately or be delayed.
