Malt Import License Requirement Lifted by Israel's Ministry of Economy

As part of the Ministry of Economy and Industry's efforts to improve trade conditions and ease business operations in Israel, the Minister of Economy and Industry signed a change in the Free Import Order this week, abolishing the need for an import license for malt. This move is expected to ease regulation, allow malt import from a variety of suppliers, and increase market competition.

The cancellation is good news for small and medium-sized businesses struggling to meet existing regulatory requirements, and will help reduce costs and increase flexibility in the supply chain. For importers, the import license was merely a bureaucratic step, but a delay in its submission could lead to delays and fines.

About 60% of malt consumption in Israel is imported. A decade ago, about 90% of the malt consumed in Israel was produced by Nesher Company. With the government's steps to open the market to import, Nesher's monopoly was abolished, leading to increased competition in the industry. The main countries from which malt is imported to Israel are Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and Jordan. Imports from Turkey ceased about a year ago due to the Turkish embargo.