3.100.  Under the VSAH's import procedures, meat and eggs must originate from plants approved by the VSAH in authorized countries. To be included in the list of authorized countries, an Israeli importer must make a request for a specific permit to import a specific animal or animal product. The VSAH then sends a questionnaire to the competent authorities of the exporting country. The completed questionnaire is evaluated, and further information may be requested. On conclusion of the written procedure, and in consultation with the competent authorities, the VSAH visits the competent authority of the exporting country. The final report by the VSAH may include a conclusion that imports may start immediately, whether additional guarantees are needed, or that the request for an import is refused.[102] Once a year, the competent authority of the exporting country should send to the VSAH a list of plants authorized for the export to Israel of meat and offal, although it may amend this list during the year. Each year, the VSAH also conducts risk analysis and, based on the results, may decide which countries and which plants within these countries are to be audited. Plant protection and inspection services

3.101.  Under the Plant Import Regulations of 2009, importers of many plant products (as listed in Annexes 3 and 4 of the Regulations) no longer require an import permit, provided: the plant products are not used for propagation, unless imported for this purpose and, if so, the relevant authority of the exporting country certifies that the material is not genetically modified; for products listed in Annex 3 of the Regulations, the importer attaches to the consignment a certificate of origin. Annex 3 includes several major plant products, including: dried grains for human consumption, animal feed or oil extraction (excluding cotton seeds); wood products (excluding logs, bark and chips); shelled nuts (excluding peanuts and pecans); and dried fruit, vegetables, and herbs; and for products listed in Annex 4 of the Regulations, the importer attaches a phytosanitary certificate. Annex 4 includes a long list of plants and plant products, and includes requirements that must be met (often stating they must originate from "European countries"[103]).[104]

3.102.  Imports of regulated articles such as plants, plant products, seeds, ‎propagation material, and biotic material not listed in Annexes 3 and 4 of the Regulations require import permits from the PPIS and, where a new commodity or originating market is concerned, a pest risk assessment. For these products, applications for import permits must be submitted before the date of import. If approved, a permit will be granted and will include the import requirements for the specific product, a certificate of origin, and ‎additional statements required for import, based on PPIS decisions. These statements should appear in the health certificate accompanying the shipment from the country of origin. Under the Plant Protection Law, Regulations for Importation of Plants 2009, imports of biotic material (which include invertebrate organisms, microbes, fungi, viruses, and soil) are forbidden. However, for research and development purposes a permit may be issued for imports of limited amounts from proven reliable sources and under restrictive conditions.[105] Animal Feed Control Division

3.103.  The Animal Feed Control Division (AFCD) is responsible for setting conditions and issuing instructions relating to imports of animal feed. According to the authorities, the Animal Feed Law of 2014, which come into force in March 2017, adopted some of the main features of the legislation of the European Union on animal feed regarding transparency, consistency, and a risk‑based control system. Under the Law, Israel has adopted a new approach to ease the flow of imports by merging feed controls and other import requirements. Kosher certification

3.104.  Except for meat products, there is no legal requirement for food products to have kosher certification, but it has been reported that it is often a practical market requirement as many hotels and shops do not stock non-kosher products.[106] Under the Law for Prevention of Fraud in Kashrut (1983), the Chief Rabbinate of Israel has exclusive competence over kosher certification and the recognition of kosher certifying bodies outside Israel.[107]

3.89.  The principal agencies responsible for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are: The National Food Service (NFS) in the Ministry of Health for supervising locally manufactured and imported food; The Veterinary Services and Animal Health (VSAH) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for animal health; The Plant Protection and Inspection Service (PPIS) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for plant health; and The Standards Institution of Israel for managing the standard setting process generally, included SPS related measures (Section 3.3.2)

3.90.  In addition, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economy and Industry, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are also responsible for some aspect of SPS measures. In general, the NFS is responsible for fisheries and imported foods, and domestically produced food after fruit picking/abattoir/delivery to dairy; and the VSAH and PPIS are responsible for unprocessed food, and live animals and their slaughter

3.91.  The national enquiry points and the notifications authorities for SPS measures are the PPIS and the VSAH. Israel is a member of the Codex Alimentarius and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and a contracting party to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)

3.92.  Israel has made a total of 13 notifications (including revisions, addenda, and corrigenda) to the WTO on SPS measures, most recently in 2011 on the approximation with OIE guidelines relating to BSE on the importation of live animals and animal products.[97] Four specific trade concerns have been raised about SPS measures taken by Israel, all of which have been resolved.[98] In addition to notifications of SPS measures, some of the notifications on technical barriers to trade are concerned with protection of human health or safety, protection of animal or plant life or health, or protection of the environment. From 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2017, 60 such notifications were made (including revisions, addenda, and corrigenda) about products under HS headings 1 to 24 (all for food and beverages, except for one notification on tobacco products).[99] Some of these notifications may include references to SPS measures

3.93.  The principal SPS-related laws are set out in Table 3.144. Food safety

3.94.  The Protection of Public Health (Food) Law 5716-2015, which came into effect in September 2016, is intended to increase competition in marketing of food products by, inter alia, reducing regulatory requirements for imports while ensuring all food marketed in Israel complies with quality and safety regulations. Under the Law, food imports are divided into two groups: "sensitive", and "non-sensitive". According to the authorities, sensitive foods are classified as such based on risk assessment with regard to different aspects such as microbiology, chemistry, animal source, foods intended for particular consumer groups, etc. Sensitive goods under the responsibility of the NFS include: milk products and milk product substitutes; food supplements (vitamins, minerals and herbs); baby food; low-acid canned foods; egg products; mineral water and beverages based on mineral water; mushroom products; high caffeine food products; fresh fruit and vegetables; fish and fish products; and meat products.[100]

3.95.  All food importers must be registered with the NFS, and consignments of sensitive goods must have prior authorization from the NFS. For non-sensitive food products, prior authorization for imports is no longer required, nor is original documentation from the manufacturer demonstrating compliance with Israeli regulations. Non-sensitive food products may be imported based on a declaration by the importer that they comply with Israeli regulations and may be automatically released, unless randomly selected for documentary and physical checks (5% of consignments are sampled). The importer is required to keep all documents relating to the import, including copies of labels and packages, for one year after the expiration of the shelf-life of the goods and the importer must also keep a record of those supplied with the goods

3.96.  Imports of sensitive foods must be accompanied by certificates of analysis that certify their quality and safety, are checked at import, are sampled every three months, and are released to the importer's warehouse subject to a bank guarantee while awaiting the test results

3.97.  The Food Law also sets out the responsibilities of all food business operators, and applies uniform controls to imports and domestic production, with inspections based on risk assessment. The Law also requires the traceability of food through food business operators, with an obligation to report problems and recall affected products. Enforcement of the Law has also been reinforced, with both financial and criminal penalties possible

3.98.  Currently, approval of novel foods is carried out on a case-by-case basis as set out in the Novel Food Procedure, and a list of approved novel foods is published on the NFS website.[101] The draft Public Health Regulations (Food) (Novel foods) 5773-2013 deal with foods manufactured using gene technology that have not yet been approved by the Knesset. According to the draft Regulations, only GMOs on the list of approved GMOs could legally enter the food supply system in Israel. Manufacturers and importers will be required to submit an application to the Novel Food Committee of the NFS for the approval of novel foods, including GMOs, which are not on the list of approved novel foods. The Committee would then assess the safety of the novel food, on a case-by-case basis. This assessment process is to be completed within 6 to 12 months, depending on the complexity of the application. According to the authorities, the safety criteria for assessment are derived from internationally established scientific principles and guidelines developed by the FAO, the WHO, and Codex Alimentarius. Veterinary services and animal health

3.99.  The Department of Import and Export in the VSAH is responsible for the import and export of animals, animal products, and biological material to and from Israel

3.80.  Standards, conformity assessment, and their enforcement are governed by the Standards Law of 1953 (as amended). Under this Law, the Standards Institution of Israel (SII), a statutory non-governmental organization, is the sole authority for the development of standards and for permitting manufacturers the use of the Standard Mark, indicating that a product conforms to an Israeli standard. The SII is a largely self-financing institution, but receives support from the Government for work on standards preparation. The Commissioner of Standardization, under the Ministry of Economy and Industry, is in charge of enforcement of mandatory standards and approval of testing laboratories. It also has responsibility for enforcement of technical regulations (mandatory standards). However, there are more than 20 governmental authorities that enforce technical regulations pertinent to their fields of activity. For example, the Ministry of Health enforces regulations on pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, cosmetics, and food; the Ministry of Transport is responsible for automobiles and spare parts; the Ministry of Communications is in charge of communications equipment (wire and wireless); and the Ministry of National Infrastructure deals with fuel and energy efficiency.[91]

3.81.  In October 2014, a resolution on Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) was adopted. It came into effect in January 2016 as a mandatory process throughout the Israeli Government.[92] The Prime Minister's office overlooks the implementation of the RIA across the Government. The purpose of this resolution was to bring about a reduction in the unnecessary regulatory burden, and to create the correct balance between vital governmental intervention and leaving room for market forces to operate. The resolution introduced a plan of action based on two central components: reducing the regulatory burden of existing regulation, and carrying out an assessment of the expected impact of regulation before formulating new regulations. The regulations' drafts and the RIA are published on each Ministry's website and on the site of the Prime Minister's Office.[93]

3.82.  The Ministry of Economy and Industry is the TBT enquiry point under the TBT Agreement. In the period 2012-17, Israel submitted 453 notifications (420 during 2006-11) to the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, mostly concerning the revision of mandatory standards or the adoption of international or regional standards.[94] During the period under review, two specific trade concerns were raised in the TBT Committee.[95]

3.83.  Steps have been taken to align all of Israel's technical standards to international standards. Over 2016-17, various government resolutions were adopted regarding standards, including Amendments Nos. 12 and 13 to the Standards Law of 1953. The amendments require the adoption of international and regional standards in place of Israeli standards that have no national deviations, and also set out timetables for a three-year re-evaluation of all mandatory standards, by August 2019. Food standards, for example, are undergoing a gradual revision under the existing food standards committees, with the purpose of bringing them closer to existing international standards such as those of the Codex Alimentarius

3.84.  By the end of 2017, the SII has published 3,504 standards (compared with 3,192 as of January 2012). In 2017, 653 standards (excluding food standards) were mandatory. Mandatory standards are important in electrical and mechanical engineering, and in food (Table 3.13). In 2017, 78% of Israel's mandatory standards involved the adoption of international, regional or other foreign standards. Of these, 53% are international (ISO/IEC), 35% are European (CEN/CENELEC), and 12% are "other", including standards of the United States

3.85.  The SII is a signatory to the Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards, and operates in accordance with the ISO/IEC guidelines set out for this purpose. The standardization process is laid down in the Rules for the Preparation of Israeli Standards of 1991. Voluntary standards are elaborated by the SII's technical committees, after which the SII circulates each draft standard for comments prior to adoption. At present, 17 central committees, 130 technical committees, and 863 experts groups are active in the SII. The Minister of Economy and Industry may declare a particular standard to be mandatory after consultation with representatives of producers, importers and consumers (one month), and obtaining the written consent of the competent Minister, following which they are published in the Official Gazette. If there are several standards suitable for adoption, the SII may publish alternative standards, provided that each is based on a current international standard

3.86.  Most imports that are subject to technical requirements (as listed in Annex 2 of the Free Import Order, 2014 (Section 3.1.5) are inspected at the port of entry. Domestic products are subject to market inspection. Compliance testing, for both domestic and imported products, is generally carried out by one of the SII's laboratories or by a laboratory which holds an approval and/or recognition certificate from the Commissioner of Standardization to carry out the tests and issue a compliance certificate. Imports with an SII Standards Mark, certifying compliance with a certain standard, may enter Israel without being tested. As of 2017, 2,290 permits had been granted for marking products with a Standard Mark, to 863 companies, mainly domestic. The SII has also licensed 745 production processes. There is, however, no requirement that imported goods be supervised by the SII and bear a Standards Mark

3.87.  The procedures for imports without the Mark depend on the degree of product safety and the reliability of the importer. All imported goods subject to mandatory standards (Annex 2 of the Free Import Order, 2014) have been classified into four levels of examination according to the degree to which they might endanger public health and safety. The goal of creating these groups was to ease the inspection burden on imported consumer products by evaluating possible risk, and to shift the emphasis of enforcement to inspection at the post-marketing stage. For goods in Group 1, representing the highest danger level, an examination of each shipment remains mandatory (e.g. electrical home appliances, toys); goods in Group 2, with an intermediate danger level, are subject to type approval tests; while goods in Group 3 must be accompanied by a supplier's declaration of conformity (SDoC). Imported goods intended solely for industrial use (Group 4) do not undergo any special inspection. Like a number of high income countries[96], Israel applies the presumption of conformity approach. It places more responsibility on the supplier, including manufacturers, importers, and distributors, whose shipments must be accompanied by a personal declaration that the goods conform to Israeli mandatory standards. Penalties for infractions against the Standards Law are US$45,000 for each infraction by an individual, and up to US$70,000 in the case of corporate bodies. Moreover, the Commissioner is empowered to impose Group 1 status (i.e. examination of each shipment) on the goods of any unreliable supplier. This status may be maintained for one year

3.88.  Israel has few mutual recognition agreements (MRAs). The first MRA was a Good Laboratory Practice Agreement with the European Union, in force since 2000. Israel and the European Union also have an MRA on acceptance of conformity assessment (ACAA) with a sectoral annex on Good Manufacturing Practice in pharmaceuticals, in force since December 2013. Israel and Canada have an MRA on conformity assessment procedures for telecoms equipment, in force since January 2013. Israel and the United States also have an MRA on conformity assessment procedures for telecoms equipment, in force since December 2013. Israel, through the SII, has also signed MRAs on test data with 18 certification organizations which have testing facilities in 135 countries. It has also signed memoranda of understanding for mutual recognition of ISO 9000 registration with 35 organizations worldwide