1. Reforms and Procedures of Agricultural Imports to Israel
Inbar Grinstein-Deker
Director of International Trade
Ramat-Gan, December 2017

2. Israel is a Net Food Importer
Export

3. But a Net Exporter of Fresh Produce
Import

4. Different Composition of Production and Export
Production Value
29 Billion NIS
Export Value
4.6 Billion NIS
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, 2016

5. Import Sources are Diverse
ch. 1-24

6. We Import Mainly Grains

7. Nine Signed Bilateral FTAs
European Union
1975, 1995
United States
1985
EFTA
1992, 2018?
Canada
1997, 2015
Turkey
1997
Mexico
1999
MERCOSUR
2007
Colombia
2013
Panama
2016
Korea
Ukraine
Vietnam
Eurasian Customs Union
China
India
Negotiations

8. Import Procedures Taking into consideration: High / Regular demand
Duty free / Reduced duty
Consumer / Industry
Established / New importers
Large / Small importers
Israeli / Palestinian destinations

9. High Demand TRQs
2018 quota requests from including “Shipped of Board” documents.
10% of the TRQ is initially allocated to new importers
20% of the TRQ is initially allocated to Palestinian importers

10. High Demand TRQs EU TRQ Product 180 Honey 2,300 Onions 380 Quinces
2,140
Pears
3,280
Apples
230
Garlic
200
Mushrooms (Oct.-Apr.)
WTO voluntary TRQs
Chickpeas
Almonds
Groundnuts

11. FCFS EU TRQs 2,060,000 units Chicks 250 Tunas 100 Asparagus
730 (+WTO quota)
Prunes
560
Watermelon seeds
1,150
Dog/Cat food additives
1,610
Other animal food additives
120
Raisins
50,000 units
Turkey eggs for incubation
2,450
Fresh Fruits*

12. Industry TRQs EU Quotas 300 Honey 6,380 Potatoes 8,004,800 Fresh eggs
Voluntary WTO Quotas
Groundnuts
Olives

13. Policy Changes

14. Import Policy Reforms Beef Market Timeline
Increased duty-free TRQs for fresh/chilled bovine meat
Elimination of
customs duties for the
Import of Calves for slaughtering
Mandatory labeling of thawed meat
Fixing the customs rate to only 12% from 2020
Decreased tariffs for fresh/chilled bovine meat
Gradually increased direct support
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

15. Import Policy Reforms Beef WTO Duty Free TRQs (tonnes)
Tariff rate
Duty Free
WTO TRQs -Tonnes
Year
12% NIS/kg
6,000
2015
7,500
2016
12% NIS/kg
10,000
2017
12% NIS/kg
12,500
2018
12% NIS/kg
15,000
2019
12%
17,500
2020

16. Import Policy Reforms Cheese Market Timeline
2011: “The Cottage Cheese protest”
2014: a budget of NIS 60 million transferred over 4 years to support the dairy cattle sector, accompanied by gradual reduction of tariffs for the importation of various dairy products

17. Import Policy Reforms Dairy WTO Duty Free TRQs (tonnes)
Yoghurt
1,250
2014
1,500
2015
2,000
+2016
TRQ
Semi-Hard Cheese
4,200
2014
4,800
2015
5,400
2016
6,000
2017
6,500
2018+
TRQ
Butter
750
2014
1,000
2015
1,250
+2016
TRQ
Cream
750
2014
1,000
2015
1,200
+2016

18. Import Policy Reforms Fish
Event1
Passover TRQs
March 2016 – July 2016
3,500 tons of frozen Tilapia tons of carp and mullet
NIS 23 million Direct Payments
Event2
Fixed tariff reduction plan
Immediate tariff reduction of 50%
Further reduction in the next 3 years
Examining reduction threshold every year
Direct Payment for 7 years - NIS 30 million
NIS 77 million for Environmental reforms
Frozen Tilapia
2015 Customs Tariff – 15 NIS/Kg
2016 Customs Tariff – 7.5 NIS/Kg

19. Regulatory Policy Improvements
Imports of plants and plant products
Exemption from license for safe products
Shortening the PRA process
Reducing laboratory tests
Reducing the rate of inspections at ports using Risk Management Methodologies
Imports of animals and animal products
Extending shelf life of chilled meat
Eliminating import license requirement for live fish

20. Regulatory Policy Improvements
Imports of agricultural equipment
Adaptation of international regulations
90% reduction in document requirements
TRQs under bilateral and multilateral agreements
75% reduction in document requirements
Computerized TRQ submission system