Israel’s Agriculture Ministry has informed dairies across Israel that the EU will no longer accept dairy exports from Israeli communities in the West Bank, beginning in January next year.
The European Commission no longer recognizes the authority of inspection agencies over the pre-1967 lines, and without such an inspection, dairy products from those areas cannot be sold in the EU. Because the EU doesn't recognize the Israeli Agricultural Ministry's authority in these areas, the products are considered to be unregulated and, therefore, do not comply with EU import standards.
The EU has already banned the import of organic goods produced beyond the Green Line.
Ministry spokesman Amnon Lieberman said the dairy market is primarily a local one, and the primary dairy export to Europe is powdered milk. The economic impacts of the ban are expected to be minimal, EU officials have said that this is not an official boycott of Israeli products. As of June, a similar ban was applied to poultry from over the pre-1967 lines and, beginning in February 2015, fish and fish products will be included in the ban. In 2013, Israel exported US$87m worth of fruit and vegetables to the EU, and US$36m worth of processed goods.
