Certification as a key to market access – A Nordic perspective

A recent example of this is that RISE has signed a cooperation agreement with Finance Norway Insurance Services (FNF). The agreement means that RISE now meets FNF’s tightened requirements for product certification within theft protection, intrusion protection, and security, and that certificates issued by RISE continue to be accepted on the Norwegian market through registration with FNF and listing via FG Skadeteknikk. But behind the agreement lies a broader story – about how certification simplifies market access and creates predictability for companies.

When technical requirements become business conditions

For many manufacturers and suppliers, it is not the product’s quality that determines whether it reaches the market, but whether it meets the right requirements. In Norway, the insurance sector plays an especially important role. Through FG Skadeteknikk, FNF defines which products are considered to meet insurance approved levels.

For companies wishing to operate in Norway, this is often an absolute requirement – not a “nice to have.” A product may be robust, tested, and technically advanced, but without the right certification it will still not be accepted by insurance companies, property owners, or end users..

This is where the true value of certification becomes clear: it translates complex requirements into something manageable and verifiable.

A step closer to a Nordic home market

Through the agreement between RISE and FNF, the regulatory frameworks FG 400 and FG 410, based on established norms from the Swedish Theft Prevention Association (SSF) and relevant EN standards, become clearer and more predictable for companies that certify their products with RISE.

For companies, this means:

•    clearer information on which requirements apply in Norway,
•    reduced risk of duplicate work,
•    and a smoother path from a developed product to an actual market presence.

In practice, this also strengthens Nordic harmonization within the security sector. The ambition is for the Nordic region to function increasingly as a unified market, where certification in one country can form the basis for approval in another. The Nordic registration scheme is an important tool in this work, and collaborations like this make it easier to apply in reality.

Certification as a competitive advantage – Not just control

It is easy to view certification as something one “has to get through.” But more and more companies instead use certification strategically to:

•    signal quality and reliability,
•    meet insurance companies’ expectations,
•    and build trust with customers and partners.

When requirements are clear and recognized by the market, certification becomes not a barrier but a competitive asset.

RISE has long offered certification according to SSF norms, EN standards, and under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). The new agreement with FNF clarifies the link between these certifications and the actual market requirements in Norway, ultimately benefiting the companies that have chosen to invest in verified quality.

From regulation to real value

At its core, certification is about trust. Trust that products function as intended, that security levels are comparable, and that insurance systems can rely on technical performance.

The cooperation with FNF is therefore more than a formal agreement. It is an example of how certification can act as a bridge between technology, regulation, and the market – and how the right certification can mean the difference between standing outside and actually gaining access to a new market.

For companies with ambitions to operate in the Nordic region, the message is clear:
with the right certification, the market becomes not only larger, but also more predictable.