Tariffs and regulations
Tariffs and duty rates are constantly revised and are subject to change without notice.
Austrade strongly recommends you reconfirm these prior to selling to Israel.
For further information please see the Israeli Department of Customs and VAT.
Tariffs and non-tariff barriers
Tariff
Import tariffs are based on the Harmonised System, with two columns. The 'general rate' is applied to imports from Australia. A two-column tariff is used and the general rate is applied to Australian imports.
Israel uses the Customs Valuation principles of the World Trade Organization code. In most cases, the basis for valuation is the CIF price.
In addition to its GATT multilateral trade commitments, Israel also has free trade agreements with the European Union, EFTA countries, USA, Canada, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Turkey. It also has a preferential trade agreement with Turkey.
Within the framework of services provided by the Department of Customs and VAT, foreigners may contact the Classification Section directly to receive information concerning the classification of goods, as well as information on taxes and other charges for imported goods. This information is given without charge but is limited to three items per request. Requests should include description of goods and country of origin.
Israeli Department of Customs and VAT
32 Agron Street
PO Box 320
91002 Jerusalem, Israel
Tel: +972 (0)2 670 3253
Fax: +972 (0)2 625 8602
Non-tariff barriers
Import restrictions
General import licenses are required for a specified list of goods. In most cases, licences are issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and are normally valid for six months. Application to import goods must be submitted on an import license application form, together with the order offer and copy of a pro-forma invoice or price quotation of the supplier or manufacturer.
An import licence is required for the following reasons:
- Restrictions on imports from certain countries, which ban or restrict imports from Israel
- Protection of local production
- Consumer protection and maintenance of public security and health
- Division of import quotas with preferred tariffs
Importers must be Israeli citizens or a registered Israeli company.
Kosher certificates are required in order to import food to Israel whenever the importer wishes to market food products with the markings Kosher on them. The body responsible for issuing Kosher certificates is the Chief Rabbinate.
Product certification, labelling and packaging
Labelling
Israel has very strict labelling requirements. Imports must be labelled with the country of origin, the producer’s name and address, the importer’s name and address, and the contents, weight, and volume of the goods. In 1998, Israel amended its packaging and labeling requirements to allow non-metric packaging as long as information on pricing in standard metric units is provided.
Labelling must be in Hebrew, although other languages can be used if the fonts are no larger than the Hebrew.
Other important information:
- Outer containers should bear consignee's mark and port mark and should also be numbered (to accord with packing list) unless their contents can be otherwise readily identified.
- Many products are subject to specific labelling. Examples are some consumer goods, paper products, handbags, musical recordings, fertilisers, insecticides, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, some food products, seeds and alcoholic beverages.
- Food products sold in Israel must be packaged according to standard uniform weights and volumes, usually metric. Nutritional labelling is compulsory on all packaged foods. Information on these standards is available from:
Department of Weights and Measures
Ministry of Industry and Trade
30 Agron Street
Jerusalem 94190
Tel: +972 2 622 0601
Fax: +972 2 560 5994
- Special packaging regulations apply to imported fruit and plants (including parts of plants, seeds, vegetables, potatoes).
- No marks may be applied (eg. such as the words patented, registered, registered design and trademark registered used alone), which suggest that patent, design or trademark has been registered in Israel, if such is not the case.
- Imports carrying marks which are or purport to be Israeli trademarks must show actual country of origin.
- Special care should be taken to mark and label outside and inside containers of dangerous articles such as poisons, insecticides, drugs, inflammable goods, ammunition, explosives, reptiles, insects, bacteria and radioactive materials.
Further information on food labelling and packaging may be obtained from:
Israel Ministry of Health, Food Control Administration
12-14 Ha'arba'a Street
Tel Aviv 61070
Tel: +972 3 563 4782
Fax: +972 3 562 5769
Special certificates
This certificate is issued to the importer by the competent authority, as the case may be (Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Transportation, Industry and Commerce, Communications) approving the import of goods as indicated in the certificate and under the terms specified.
Frozen meat requires two sanitary certificates:
- A certificate indicating ante- and post-mortem inspection and observance of packing standards is required.
- A further certificate that the meat has been properly frozen or chilled up until the time of shipment is needed.
Hides and animal parts require veterinary certification of their condition, disinfection and/or freedom from disease and infection.
All cattle require the usual veterinary certification of examination (within 24 hours of shipment). The certificates for stud cattle require an endorsement regarding tests for tuberculosis and bovine contagious abortion. If transshipped en route, a further veterinary certificate is required showing that the animals have not been in contact with any other stock at the port of embarkation.
Bees must be certified (within 60 days of shipment) free from infections and contagious diseases.
Whisky requires a certificate of age stating that is has been stored in wood for not less than three years.
Mineralised methylated spirits require a supplier's certificate stating the materials and proportions used in denaturing the spirits.
In general, plants are imported to Israel according to the Israeli Plant Protection Law (1956) Plant Import Regulations (1970). According to the regulations, an import permit (IP) from the importing country, and a phytosanitary certificate (PC) from the exporting country, is required for any plant/plant product (unprocessed) import.
An IP is issued to specific genera or species of plants, therefore the application form should be detailed. If a plant is not listed in the Plant Protection and Inspection Services databank ( a division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), a pest risk analysis (PRA) should be performed in order to approve the application and determine the requirements. Specific requirements are given within the IP and should be fulfilled with the PC.
Import of plant propagation material from Australia is according to the following:
- Seeds - are allowed with or without specific requirements (in general depending on the genera).
- Tissue culture (TC) - are allowed with or without specific requirements (in general, depending on the genera).
- Plants for planting - (other than TC and seeds) are not allowed. Small amounts can be imported under quarantine conditions for agricultural development. For large amounts PRA is required.
- Large pot plants are not allowed to be imported.
For further information and to obtain the application form please contact:
Head, Import Division
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
State of Israel
PO Box 78 Bet-Dagan
50250 Israel
Tel: +972 3 968 1500
Fax: +972 3 968 1507
Methods of quoting and payment
Quotes usually FOB (Incoterms 1990) unless otherwise specified in Australian dollars or US dollars. Payment is usually on CAD basis.
Documentary requirements
Fax signatures are not permitted.
Pro-forma invoice
Seven copies are required.
Commercial invoice
No prescribed form. The importer should indicate the number of copies required, but the Israeli Customs require three copies. It must also be endorsed by a responsible member of the exporting firm.
The invoice must indicate:
- country of origin (if this is not indicated, a 10 per cent deposit is levied - refundable only upon lodgement of the corrected invoice)
- place and date of preparing invoice
- names and addresses of seller and buyer
- quantity
- description
- marks and numbers of packages
- a full description of the goods
- unit and total gross
- legal and net weights
- agreed price
- terms of supply
- shipping and payment, including any rebates
- the harmonised tariff number should be indicated as it facilitates clearance
Certificates of origin
Required for fruits, plants, seeds and vegetables.
Bill of lading
To Order bills acceptable. Two copies are usually required and must indicate:
- Consignee's name and address
- Gross weight in metric and imperial measurements
- Import licence number, when applicable
Public health requirements
All plants are inspected at port of entry. Flowers, fruit and bark-covered tree trunks require a permit from the Director of Agriculture.
Foodstuffs, beverages, medical and pharmaceutical preparations, fertilisers and insecticides containing DDT cannot be imported.
Foodstuffs must have the true nature of their contents stated on the label (in Hebrew) and also show the name and address of the manufacturer or producer and the importer.
Food and beverages containing preservatives must show on the label the quantity (in parts per million) and nature of such preservatives.
Foodstuffs may not be packed or sold in containers intended to hold poisons or non-consumable liquids.
Pharmaceutical preparations and household pesticides require a licence from the Ministry of Health.
Medical preparations must be labelled in Hebrew with the name of product, instructions for its use and a statement of its qualities. Hebrew lettering must be at least as large as that of any other language appearing on the label.
The Ministry of Health is the certifying authority for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
Specific regulations cover packing and trading in poisons and noxious chemicals.
Washing and cleaning preparations containing hard detergents are prohibited.
Insurance
Goods sold on FOB or C&F terms (Incoterms 1990) must be insured in Israel.