Arkivforskriften

Arkivforskriften is the Norwegian regulation that governs how public authorities manage and preserve official records. It operates to implement and supplement the Arkivloven (the Archives Act) by detailing practical requirements for archives in the public sector. The regulation applies to state and municipal administrations and other public bodies that create official records, including electronic records, defining how these records should be created, stored, organized, preserved, and eventually disposed of or transferred.

Key provisions focus on establishing an effective archiving system within each agency. Organizations must appoint records managers, maintain an archiving plan, and ensure that records are created and retained in a retrievable and authentic form. The rule set includes disposition and retention schedules, requiring routine appraisals and the orderly destruction or transfer of records that have reached the end of their statutory value.

Digital records are given particular attention, with requirements for metadata, classification, indexing, and long-term preservation to safeguard accessibility and authenticity. The regulation also addresses access and privacy considerations, ensuring appropriate restrictions on sensitive information while maintaining avenues for legitimate public access under the law.

Transfer of material to the National Archives (Arkivverket) is prescribed for records deemed to have enduring value, or as part of systematic offloading when retention periods expire. Arkivverket provides guidance, oversight, and, if necessary, audits to ensure compliance. The arkivforskriften thus plays a central role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the orderly management of public records across governmental bodies, in alignment with broader information governance and freedom of information frameworks.