At the same time, as promised by the Minister, the examination of all standards based on international standards has been completed, and an additional 64 standards have been identified as appropriate and will also join the reform. Under the direction of the Minister of Economy and Industry, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Orna Barbibai, a draft order of import groups was published for public comment today. The order is supposed to determine which products will enter the reform, which will allow their quick and easy entry into the country, based on a statement regarding compliance with the requirements of the Israeli official standard.
This reform, which concerns products with an Israeli standard, is being carried out in parallel with the reform concerning products that have an international standard (the “Cassis” reform) that will allow rapid entry of products that comply with an international standard. Both reforms will take effect in June 2022. The examination of international non-European standards and their degree of conformity with the reform has recently been completed. The exam completed the examination of European standards. Out of 90 standards, 64 were found to be suitable for it. Products in the field of these standards will enter Israel based on compliance with the requirements of the international standard and do not require additional processes. Among the devices: ceramic tiles, eyeglasses and sunglasses, ceramic and glass cutlery, bicycles, personal protective equipment, syringes, cigarette lighters, car batteries and more.
The draft order is the work of the team, headed by the director general of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, Dr. Ron Malka, and includes a representative of the budget commissioner, a representative of the competition commissioner and the standard commissioner, and is based on the principles outlined in the Knesset Arrangements Law. The list of products published in the framework of the order, is distributed to the general public today for 30 days, after which it will be re-examined by the team, with discussions relevant to the ministers in charge of the various standards. The team will review the references and accordingly formulate its final recommendations, which will be submitted to Sarah. The Minister of Economy and Industry will examine the recommendations and publish the final order.
There are currently about 500 official standards in Israel, which apply to thousands of products, which are required by permits before entering Israel. The approval is given on the basis of inspections in accordance with the route to which the standard belongs, from the inspection of every shipment arriving in the country, through the inspection of a model only, to importers’ statements on the shipment’s compliance with the provisions of the standard.
As part of the reform, about 350 standards, in which there is no significant and serious risk to the safety and health of the public and the environment, will enter Israel, upon the entry into force of the reform, on the basis of an importer’s declaration. 90 of them will only need to test a certain component, for example a test for the presence of lead.
Among the products that will be exempt from the obligation to inspect every shipment and will only be charged with a model inspection: electrical fittings, pressure cookers for cooking, prams, baby beds and cribs, baby dining chairs, toys for children over 3, baby walkers, water purification systems, bunk beds, cleaning materials , Bicycles for children, electric cookers, refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, and more.
Products that will be subject to an importer’s declaration only: lamps, ceramic tiles, carpets, eyeglasses and sunglasses, baby diapers, tampons, microwaves, sewing machines, heaters, wheelchairs, ladders and stools, bicycles for adults, TVs, sound systems for home use, routers and more .
The reform will significantly reduce, in the cumulative millions of shekels a year, the costs of importers and therefore, the Ministry of Economy and Industry expects that this relief will be reflected immediately in the decline in the prices of these products to consumers. As a result of these facilitations, new importers are also expected to enter the market, and as a result, competition will increase for both the range of products and their prices.
It should be emphasized that in order to carry out significant enforcement required to create a balance for relief, the Ministry of Economy is working in these months, until the reform enters into force, to build a significant deterrent, enforcement and punishment system, in cooperation with customs and insurance companies. The public, will not enter the country.
The Minister of Economy and Industry, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Orna Barbibai: The reform we are bringing is expected to increase the supply, the quantity of products and the number of importers and lower the price to the consumer. “
The Minister of Finance, Avigdor Lieberman: “This is another step in adapting regulation in Israel to what is customary in developed countries. Reducing the regulatory burden, especially for small businesses, is expected to increase competition and lead to a reduction in the cost of living. Bicycles that are good for Amsterdam are also good for Tel Aviv. “