The Economics Committee approved the food import reform: Will save customers NIS 3 billion a year

The Knesset's Economics Committee has approved the food chapter in the import reform, which will shorten the import processes of sensitive food and is supposed to increase competition. According to estimates by the Ministry of Finance, the reform will save consumers about NIS 3 billion a year.
This is a chapter from the import reform that the government sought to approve within the framework of the Arrangements Law. The purpose of the reform is to adjust the regulation on imports in Israel to the European one, thus increasing competition and lowering prices. The food chapter is intended to allow a European route for importing sensitive food on the basis of a declaration only, which will replace the long approval route that currently exists in the food service of the Ministry of Health.
Not all food products are included in the reform - following a dispute between the Ministries of Justice, Finance, Agriculture and Health, some of the products that were defined as sensitive include raw milk, raw meat (meat intended for human consumption in its natural state after slaughter), honey, fresh eggs and fruits and vegetables.
"We have opened up imports and created an opportunity to adhere to the European norm, while trusting importers, and aggravating the punishment with those who will excel in their duties and bring in products that will harm citizens," said committee chairman MK Michael Bitton (blue and white).
The reform will take effect on January 1, 2023. The Minister of Health will be able to postpone the date for a period not exceeding nine months, with the approval of the Health Committee.
During the discussions, disagreements arose between the Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture, regarding the change in the reform of agricultural products even after the agreement on the exclusion of animal food. In order to solve the problem, a special and unusual mechanism was agreed upon in the previous discussion, which will bring the matter to the Prime Minister's decision. The change in the provisions of the reform will be under the authority of the Minister of Health and with the consent of the Minister of Agriculture, but if there is a dispute between the ministers it has been agreed that the Prime Minister will decide.
At the hearing, disagreements were also heard just before the vote, regarding the regulations of the Minister of Health regarding the conditions for obtaining a proper production permit (one that meets regulatory requirements regarding ensuring the quality of production). The Ministry of Finance has expressed opposition to the Minister of Health having the authority to set additional conditions and additional requirements for a proper production importer, for fear that this could drain the reform of content.
Chairman Bitton criticized the fact that this was not agreed before a vote or brought to his notice, and declared a halt, in an attempt to fail to reach agreements between the ministries.
In addition, the director general of the "Our Interest" movement, Elad Malka, warned of a situation in which fruits and vegetables must meet Israeli standards, while juice made from them must meet European standards, so it will be difficult to produce products made in Israel. , Said that it would encourage Israeli producers to purchase raw materials from farmers outside Israel.
The legal advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Adv. Efrat Aviani, explained that the government has decided to establish a team of CEOs who will deal with the issue of agriculture and he will also deal with this. The ministry has pledged to address this for the remaining two years until the reform takes effect. At the end of the discussion, the committee unanimously approved the chapter, and it will be put to a vote in the Knesset.