Natasha Niebieskikwiat
06/01/2020 - 15:00
- Clarín.com
- Economy
On a specially chartered flight to the company El Al Israel Airlines this Wednesday 98 rabbis and auxiliaries will arrive in Buenos Aires to certify the kosher meat slaughter process in seven national refrigeration plants.
The flight of this group of religious was authorized in the midst of the pandemic and the closure of the airport because it is an export market to Israel for US $ 110 million, only in this "lot". Argentine exports of meat of beef origin to Israel will reach 24,000 tons in 2020, representing U $ 170 million.
Negotiations for the authorization of this private flight were carried out between Foreign Minister Felipe Solá, Ambassador Galit Ronen and the government Benjamin Netanyahu . And also, that plane that will leave on Tuesday 2 from Tel Aviv will bring about 50 Argentines who had been stranded in Israel when the borders closed.
The Shojtim (plural of Shojet) are the experts who carry out or supervise the entire slaughter process under halachic guidelines, that is, under the agreement of Jewish law. In this group of 98 there are some who are not rabbis but all are religious.
Mario Ravettino, president of the Consortium of Meat Exporters Argentina, explained that the reason that the Argentine government was asked special permission for the 98 rabbis and their assistants to come is linked to market reasons. Ravettino, owner of the refrigerator of the same name, explained that the Argentine experts in the kosher market are not sufficient in quantity for such a volume of exports. There are about 40 for only three plants and they are committed to certifying the entire consumer market as kosher and not just the bovine.
That is why they always turn to the Israeli rabbis - who are obviously a "premium" guarantee. But in addition, the leader said that if it were not for the pandemic and the quarantine that did not allow them to travel and forced the businessmen to concentrate the Israelis on a private flight, nobody would realize this process. It happens that the rabbis and religious of the kosher world come and go every year on regular commercial flights.
The meat packing plants Pampeanas, Swift Venado Tuerto, Black Bambú, Marfrig, Friar Reconquista, Friar Nelson and Alberdi will export kosher meat to Israel. "Without the intervention of the National Government, this business could not be closed and the country was going to lose a great business in a context that Argentina needs foreign exchange. With this recognition by Chancellor Solá to the private sector, we preserve sources of work, we have all operators are active and we continue to supply the second market in volume of exports in a difficult context in the world with the COVID-19 pandemic, "explained Ravettino.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Solá said that "Israel pays better for Argentine meat, on average better than the rest of the world" (a 42% differential), and that by authorizing this charter they are seeking to "maintain that market", among other reasons, to to not leave the plants without work. The minister said that in the first quarter of the year 8,500 tons of meat were exported to Israel for a value of 60 million dollars, and 15,500 tons are pending , which are what make the 110 million dollars, with its consequent foreign exchange earnings.
Official sources reported that kosher certification requires special production processes from the moment of slaughter . In these they include both compliance with sanitary hygienic standards of animal welfare, in addition to compliance with the religious rite. The certificate is granted by religious duly authorized by the Rabbinate of Israel . The certification of the kosher rite will be carried out in each plant by teams of 15 people with very specific responsibilities. The rabbi has to know the theoretical laws and their practical application.
