Ministry of Finance exempted butter and potatoes from customs duties

That is due to the hot weather, which cut milk production both in Israel and worldwide and shorted the potato supply lacally
 
Minister of Finance, Yuval Steinitz, has exempted imported butter and potatoes from customs duties.
 
Butter is in short supply because of the extremely hot weather, which cut milk production both in Israel and worldwide. The ministry cancelled import duties on butter for an unlimited quantity of butter imported in packages greater than 1 kilogram through the end of January 2011. The duty on butter was 160%.
 
Potatoes are also in short supply locally due to the weather and various diseases, but the shortage is considered seasonal.  Steinitz has exempted the NIS 1.90 per kilogram customs duty on potato imports for domestic industry. The exemption is for up to 5,000 tons of potato imports from all sources.
 
Both the Agriculture Ministry and the Tax Authority support the move.