Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon signs order removing duties on imported butter
Domestic butter has been a rare sight on Israeli supermarket shelves since early 2019, with local producers protesting reduced profits due to government-set prices and high duties on imported goods.
By EYTAN HALONA statue of a cow painted in the colours of dairy firm Tnuva's logo stands outside the company's logistic centre in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi, Israel(photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon signed an administrative order to remove duties and quotas on imported butter on Wednesday, suggesting that an end to the lengthy butter shortage may be in sight.Kahlon signed the order for imports during 2020 despite significant opposition from local groups, including the Israeli Cattle Breeders’ Association (ICBA). Kahlon has announced he will leave politics following next week’s election.Domestic butter has been a rare sight on Israeli supermarket shelves since early 2019, with local producers protesting reduced profits due to government-set prices and high duties on imported goods. It remains unclear whether butter imported under the new order will be subject to regulations on fixed price goods, which stands at NIS 3.94 per 100 grams.“We were not surprised by the signature or the timing,” ICBA chairman Eviatar Dotan said, according to Tel Aviv-based financial daily Calcalist. “There is no shortage of butter, not even one kilogram. We will appeal to the High Court of Justice as soon as possible and prevent the populist move by the Treasury’s budget department.”In a statement, the Finance Ministry said the limited duration of the order aims to correct the current shortage and is “not expected to cause long-term damage to the dairy market.”
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