The Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that there will be a ban on Russian-registered passenger vehicles starting in the upcoming weeks. The ban includes all Russian vehicles with nine or fewer seats. However, buses and small passenger vans can cross into Norway from Russia.

Additionally, Finland, Estonia, Poland and Latvia have a ban on Russian-registered cars following updated regulations set out by the EU Commission. The ban also includes commonplace objects made in Russia for personal use, such as soap, clothing and items that could be used for military purposes, such as tires and generators. However, an exception is made if the products are for personal use by EU nationals.

Although Norway is not a member of the EU, it supports and is aiming to follow through with the sanctions imposed by the EU Commission in response to the war against Ukraine. According to the EU Common Foreign Security Policy, these sanctions are part of a wider crackdown against Russia throughout the conflict, including over 40 sanctions and regimes against Russia itself. To uphold the crackdown, the EU is asking member states and allies such as the US to comply with the sanctions fully and understand that there will be penalties for circumventing or non-compliance. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the EU Commission’s ban on Russian items and cars “pure racism and segregation which goes beyond the sanctions.”

Norway has not taken a final position on the updated sanction as recommended by the EU Commission yet but aims to start the ban as soon as possible.