Trade Minister: dairy import tariffs to be reduced

Industry and Trade and Labor Minister, Shalom Simhon announced new measures to reduce dairy import tariffs in order to allow imports of less expensive powdered milk and hard cheeses
 
Following the "The Cottage Cheese Public Protest" staged last month, Industry and Trade and Labor Minister, Shalom Simhon, announced last Thursday new measures to reduce dairy import tariffs in order to allow imports of less expensive powdered milk and hard cheeses.
 
The announcement which followed public uproar over Israel's high dairy costs - and price-fixing in the industry, will open the Israeli market to competition which should lead to a considerable drop in prices. The announcement marks a radical change to Israel's traditional farm policy under which import quotas were negotiated.
 
Simhon also announced that dairy prices will be reduced by about 10% and that dairies will be forced to reduce profit margins accordingly.
 
Simhom noted that the dairy industry will be subject to review by authorities every three months.