Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman today (Monday) signed an order abolishing tariffs on delicacies, yogurts and lean cheeses, as well as increasing import quotas for hard cheeses.
The decision is expected to reduce the prices of cheeses and dairy products by tens of percent.
The order, signed in coordination with Agriculture Minister Oded Forer, includes the complete abolition of tariffs on yogurts, dairy delicacies and cheeses up to 5% fat.
The order will allow the opening of the market for free import of these products from European countries, where the consumer price per kilogram of yogurt is about 8.5 shekels on average per kilogram, compared to 17 shekels per kilogram in Israel. A tonne for the import of cheeses in the quota.The imported cheeses are expected to be about 25% cheaper than the regulated price in Israel, so the price per consumer is expected to fall by about NIS 10 per kilogram.
The program implements the OECD recommendation to the State of Israel and is another step in placing Israel alongside the developed countries in terms of how to support agriculture, and it was later signed for a professional agreement between the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture.
"Dairy products in Israel are 79% more expensive than the OECD average, and opening the dairy market to competition is a first step in the basket of solutions for dealing with the cost of living," said Finance Minister Lieberman.
"Following the reduction of tariffs, the Israeli consumer will be able to enjoy a variety of dairy products at cheap prices, while maintaining local agriculture," Lieberman added.
"I thank the Minister of Agriculture for his cooperation in this important step."
Minister of Finance Avigdor Lieberman, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Agriculture Minister Oded Forer stressed: "Free competition achieves three goals for us: a good price for the consumer, a larger selection of products and also requires the local market to improve. This is another step in the reform we are leading to open the market and strengthen local agriculture."
Elad Malka, CEO of the public lobby "Our Interest", which promotes the opening of the food market to free competition, welcomed the announcement: "Israel is the second most expensive country in dairy products among OECD countries.
The abolition of customs duties on soft cheeses, yogurts and delicacies will make it possible to import milk from Berlin and yogurts from Europe to Israel cheaply.
The reduction of caps comes almost a year after the dairy agreement was signed that allows this.
We call on ministers to follow the same path in the egg, fruit and vegetable industries. "
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