GAIN Report - IS6027 Page 2 of 27
Required Report - public distribution
Date: 9/27/2006
GAIN Report Number: IS6027
IS6021
Israel
Export Certificate FAIRS Report
Annual
2006
Approved by:
Chris Rittgers
U.S. Embassy
Prepared by:
Gilad Shachar
Report Highlights:
This report provides updated information on certification requirements to register and export Novel Food Products.
Includes PSD Changes: No
Includes Trade Matrix: No
Annual Report
Tel Aviv [IS1]
[IS]
Section 1 - Required Export Certificates / Page 3Section 2 - Purpose of Specific Export Certificates / Page 6
Section 3 - Specific Attestation Required On The Export Certificate / Page 24
Section 4 - Government Certificate Legal Entry Requirements / Page 24
Section 5 - Other Certification/Accreditation Requirements / Page 24
Annex 2: Copy of Each Export Certificate / Page 26
Section 1 – Main Export Certificates Required by the Israeli Government
Product / Description of Certificate / Purpose / RequestingMinistry
All Food Products / Request for Import Permit / Permit Certificate / Ministry of Health- Food and Nutrition Services
All Food Products / Request to extend importer permit of a qualified importer / Permit Certificate / Ministry of Health- Food and Nutrition Services
All Food Products / Importer Statement that he imports regular food products. / Food Safety / Ministry of Health- Food and Nutrition Services
All Food Products / Certificate of origin / Custom Clearance / Israeli Customs
All Food Products / Request for permit
A preliminary application for authorization to import food products / Food Safety / Ministry of Health- Food and Nutrition Services
All New Food Products (new) / Application to register a new food / Food Safety / Ministry of Health- Food and Nutrition Services
All New Food Products (new) / Legislative status of new food / Food Safety / Ministry of Health- Food and Nutrition Services
All New Food Products (new) / Additional requirements of new foods according to the type of new food / Food Safety / Ministry of Health- Food and Nutrition Services
All Agricultural Products / Request for Import Permit / Permit Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture
Meat Products (including poultry) and Other Kosher Food Products / Kosher Certificate / Kosher Certificate / Rabbinical Council of the Chief Rabbinate or a body authorized by the Council
GMO Plants / Application for permit to experiment with transgenic plants, GMO and their import / Eligibility to receive permit only for experiments with genetically modified plants & microorganisms and their import / Ministry of Agriculture - National Committee for Transgenic Plants
Feed Grain and Products / Request to import feed for animals and its products / Permit Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture
Feed Grain and their products / A request to release feed grain and oilseeds for feed from the port of entry in Israel / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture
Plants and their products / Request to release plants and its products from Ashdod and Haifa sea ports / Health Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture
Plants and their products / Request for the import of plants material / Phytosanitary Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture
Seeds / Request for the import of seeds / Phytosanitary Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture
Invertebrates, Soil, Fungi, Bacteria and Viruses / Request for the import of biotic material / Sanitary and Safety Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture
Sterilizing material for fruits and Vegetables / Request for the use of sterilizing material for fruits and vegetables (Hebrew) / Food Safety / Ministry of Health- Food and Nutrition Services
Preserved Meat Products / Kosher certificate / Import License / Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel
Ingredients for Pet Food / Veterinary certificate to accompany digest components from poultry and/or swine species for the manufacture of pet foods exported to Israel / Health Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Pet Food / Sample of veterinary certificate to accompany pet foods containing ingredients of animal origin to Israel (Annex 2B) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Pet Food / Sample official certification of plants to produce pet food for Israel (Annex 1B) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Pet Food / USDA – certificate of ruminant ingredient utilization (for export to Israel) / Food Safety / USDA
Pet Food / Sample of official certification of plants which produce animal meals intended for the production of pet foods (Annex 1) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Product / Description of Certificate / Purpose / Requesting
Ministry
Dog Chews / Sample of official certification of plants producing dog chews intended for export to Israel (Annex 1C) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Dog Chews / Sample of veterinary certificate to accompany dog chews to Israel (Annex 2C) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Poultry/Feather/Fish Meals / Sample certification of plants producing poultry/feather/fish meals intended for export to Israel (Annex 1) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Poultry/Feather/Fish Meals / Sample veterinary certification to accompany poultry/feather/fish meals intended for export to Israel (Annex 2) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Bovine Semen / Sample veterinary certificate for the importation into Israel of Bovine Semen from the United States / Health Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Bovine Embryos / Import health requirements of Israel for bovine embryos exported from the United States / Health Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Skins, Hides, Wool, Hair, Horns and Feathers / Sample veterinary certificate required to accompany skins, hides, wool, hair and feathers exported to Israel (Annex 3) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Hides and Skins / Sample veterinary certificate to accompany fresh frozen hides and skins to Israel / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Milk substitutes milk products for animal feed / Sample of veterinary certificate to accompany milk substitute milk products for animal feed to Israel (Annex V) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Product / Description of Certificate / Purpose / Requesting
Ministry
Milk Substitutes / Sample certification of plants to produce milk substitutes for animal feed to Israel (Annex VI) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Meals for Animal Feed / Sample veterinary certificate to accompany meals for animal feed containing ingredients of animal origin to Israel (Annex 2) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Fats/Oils for Animal Feed / Sample veterinary certificate to accompany fats/oils for animal feed containing ingredients of animal origin to Israel (Annex 2d) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Tallow/Fats for Animal Feed / Sample veterinary certificate to accompany animal tallow/fats for animal feed to Israel (Annex 2E) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Animals[1] (updated) / Tourist information on importing animals to Israel / Health Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture
Dogs and Cats / Sample veterinary health certificate for importation of dogs/cats into Israel (without the owner) / Health Certificate / Ministry of Agriculture
Aquarium Fish Feeds / Sample certification of plants to produce aquarium fish feeds for Israel (Annex 1) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Feeds for Edible Fish / Sample veterinary certificate to accompany feeds for edible fish containing ingredients of animal origin (Annex 2A) / Food Safety / Ministry of Agriculture- Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Section 2 – Purpose of Specific Export Certificates
See matrix above in Section 1.
Import Procedure for Food Products Containing GM Ingredients:
In February 2006, the Israeli “New Food Committee” published new regulations governing procedures for registering Novel Foods, including food containing Genetically Modified (GM) ingredients. The registration procedure will require significant input from any U.S. exporter wishing to register a product, and U.S. exporters should collaborate with local importers to complete the process. The registration of foods containing GM ingredients is expected to begin by the end of 2006.
The purpose of the new regulations is to establish a systematic Novel Food registration process and to update the New Foods Register.
Imported food products will be divided into two groups – food products already existing in the food market and new to the market food products. The procedures for each group will be as follows:
1. Existing food products – The new food committee will issue a list of GM agricultural varieties, which have been already imported to Israel (soybean, corn, canola, chicory and more), and it is assumed that those varieties will be exempt from the registration procedure. However, the Israeli food committee did not finish the drafting procedures for food registration of existing food products. It is estimated that the committee will finish the draft by the end of 2006.
2. For Novel food products not yet registered, the importer must submit the following registration applications: Application to register a new food (Annex A), Legislative status of the new food (Annex B), and Additional requirements of new foods according to the type of new food.
The importer must submit annex B (page 10) accompanied by a risk assessment certificate. The Israeli Health Ministry have authorized the following institutions to carry out food risk assessments:
· The European Communities/EFSA
· U.S.F.D.A./USDA (FSIS)
· Health Canada
· ANZFA – Australia and New Zealand Food Authority/
FSANZ Food Standards Australia New Zealand
· Japan – Department of Food Safety, Ministry of Health
· WHO/FAO CODEX ALIMENTARIUS Expert Committees
U.S exporters wishing to export a novel food to Israel should be familiar with the entire registration procedure. For additional information about the overall registration procedure, contact the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Tel: 972-3-5197588/7324, Fax: 972-3-5102565.
E-mail: , Web Site: www.usembassy-israel.org.il/fas/.
ANNEX A
APPLICATION TO REGISTER A NEW FOOD
The New Food Committee
The Food Inspection and Nutrition Services
Ministry of Health
A. Applicant’s Details
Name and position of applicant ______
Name of company/organization ______
I.D. No.______VAT No. / Company No. ______
Address ______
Fax: ______
Phone: ______
e-mail: ______
Attach copies of applicant’s identity card, VAT registration certificate or Registrar of Companies certificate.
B. Certification of authenticity of documentation and signatures
I, ______, representing
Given name and surname
______, undertake and
Name of Organization
ensure with my signature that:
1. I am aware that presentation of false information and/or
concealment of relevant information are criminal acts.
2. All of the following information is submitted as an integral part of our application to the Food Inspection and Nutrition Services of the Ministry of Health for the registration of a new food or ingredient.
3. The information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge, complete and correct.
Date: ______Signature: ______
* When there is more than one new ingredient in a given product, this document, and all other Annexes attached, should be completed for each new ingredient separately.
C. Application Details
Type of food/new ingredient
___ Plant ___ Animal ____ Micro organism
__ Funghi or algae ___ chemical compound or preparation
Groups
A. ___ Molecular transformation, including genetic (GMO)
B. ___ New source C. ___ New process
Name of new food ______
Description of new food, including information on the nature of the product, its development, its manufacture, preparation, packaging and storage.
Description of the main change (if there is one)
Description of the proposed use of the new food
Product formulation ______
ANNEX B
LEGISLATIVE STATUS OF THE NEW FOOD
A. Name of new food/ingredient ______
Synonyms ______
B. 1. Has undergone a risk assessment by an Authorized Body: yes/no
Name of body ______Year ______
Source in literature: ______
ADI/TDI etc. if any: ______
____ Documentation attached.
B. 2. Approved in the EU yes/no ____
Title of Directive ______
Page ____
____ Documentation attached.
B. 3. Approved in the U.S.A. yes/no ____
Source in literature ______
______
______
____ Documentation attached.
B. 4. Other approval
______
______
____ Documentation attached.
B. 5. Other approval
______
______
____ Documentation attached.
Import Procedure
Procedures for food import - Imported products were divided into two groups - regular and non-regular products.
The procedures for the two groups are as follows:
Importer Registration:
1. A qualified importer must complete an application stating that he or his representative has a storage facility. This procedure is used for the two types of products.
2. An importer of regular products has to complete an “Importer Statement”.
3. Upon submission he will receive an official importer certificate from the Israeli Food & Nutrition Services.
Regular Products Registration:
1. Requires submitting a preliminary application for the authorization to import regular food products.
Non-Regular Products:
Importation requires the following procedures:
1. See section 1- importer registration
2. A preliminary application for authorization to import food products, and a border station
release application. The following certificates are required for the purpose of releasing the
food products from the border station:
a. Original/copy official importer certificate
b. Original/copy food certificate
c. Shipping invoice
d. Gate pass certificate
e. Copy of the bill of lading and packing list
f. Copy of the import tax notification
Table 1: Non-Regular Products (may change in the future)
Group1. Milk products, and milk products substitutes (crops)
2. Meat and poultry products, and their substitutes (crops)
3. Fish products, and their substitutes (crops)
4 Food supplements: vitamins, minerals and herbs
5. Baby food
6. Eggs products
7. Canned food (under pH 4.5)
8. Gelatin products, including products that contain gelatin
9. Honey products
10. Other food products that have to be storage in low temperature
11. Mineral water
12. Mushroom products
13. The food and nutrition services have the final approval if they think
that other products are not regular
14. Food that was exported, but was returned to Israel.
Section 3 –Specific Attestation Required On The Export Certificate
See Appendix 2.