End to the long diputed origin status between Israel and the EEC

Mr. Oded Eran the Israeli ambassador to the european community and Mr. Robert Veru, director of the  community's DG TAXUD, signed last week an accord ending the long disputed origin status.
 
The newly signed agreement concerns mainly with the ways in which the geographic origin of Israeli made products should be declaredto the European Customs Authorities.
 
According  to the agreement, a clear indication of the geographical location of the manufacturing or the processing of the products should appear on the EUR1 movement certificates and or on origin declarations made by exporters. ( e.g. Beer sheva, barkan etc. )
 
The long dispute created a great deal of concern to the Israeli exporting community who were regularly asked to provide proof regarding the exact origin of the products.
 
The new accord ends an eight months of continous negotiation lead by Mr. Ehud Olmert the minister for trade industry and communication.
 
Mr. Olmert said after the signing ceremony that the new accord not only cleared the way to increase bilateral trade but also opened new avenues to Israeli made products in the enlarged community.