Lowering cheese prices: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich signed a decree canceling the customs duty on various cheese products.
The order immediately cancels the currently applicable customs duty on soft cheeses with a fat percentage exceeding 5%.
These cheeses are currently subject to a duty of NIS 13.21 per kg or NIS 8.32 per kg, when it comes to sheep's milk cheeses, and a duty of NIS 8.04 per kg or NIS 8.32 per kg when it comes to non-sheep's milk cheeses.
The duty on these cheeses will be abolished in two steps, with half of the duty being abolished immediately upon the entry into force of the decree and the other half on January 1, 2024.
Tariffs on some cheeses will gradually decrease, photo: Itiel Zion
The abolition of the duty on cheese is expected to lower the price of cheese for the Israeli consumer.
Also, the abolition of the customs duty will increase the variety of cheeses imported to Israel, so that the Israeli consumer will be able to enjoy a wider selection of cheeses.
In addition to this, the duty applicable to fresh soft mozzarella cheese, for which a duty of 8.04 shekels per kg currently applies. The duty currently applicable to other types of mozzarella cheese, at the amount of 8.32 shekels per kg, will be abolished gradually, with the duty on packages weighing up to Half a kilogram will be canceled immediately upon the entry into force of the decree and the duty on packages of over half a kilogram will be reduced in five equal annual installments of 20%, so that starting from the fifth year after the publication of the decree, an exemption from duty will apply to these cheeses.
Smotrich signs the cancellation of the customs duty, photo: none
Also, the duties on Hallomi cheese, for which a duty of NIS 8.32 per kg currently applies, and on Jamid cheese, for which a duty of NIS 4.10 per kg currently applies, will be abolished.
The order is promoted in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
"The citizens of Israel are groaning under the burden and our first steps include curbing the price increases and steps to open the market to imports and competition," Smotrich said.
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