Israel imposed some restrictions on imports of products the government considers to be economically sensitive and subject to agricultural policy considerations. U.S. meat exports meet an especially difficult situation because of a ban on beef and non-kosher meat imports.
The Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel has an authority to certify food as kosher. Therefore, products categorized as kosher in the United States still must get certification from Israel's Chief Rabbinate to be confirmed as kosher in Israel. With the exception of meat, poultry and their products, there is no legal requirement that imported food be kosher. Nevertheless, for commercial purposes, in most cases customer should obtain kosher certification for products and raw materials as surveys confirm that approximately 65% of the Jewish population prefer Kosher food.
The Israeli Customs strictly enforces import documentation regulations, including the requirement for a U.S. Certificate of Origin for Exports to Israel. For this reason, U.S. exporters should thoroughly check import documents before the goods leave the United States to avoid potentially lengthy delays when the goods enter Israel.
U.S. Certificates of Origin for Exporting to Israel does not need to be notarized or stamped by a Chamber of Commerce if the exporter is also the manufacturer. The Israeli Customs Services require exporters use their own commercial invoice forms containing all required information including name and address of supplier, general nature of the goods, country of origin of the goods, name and address of the customer in Israel, name of the agent in Israel, terms, rate of exchange (if applicable), Israel import license number (if applicable), shipping information, and a full description of all goods in the shipment including shipping marks, quantity or measure, composition of goods (by percentage if mixed), tariff heading number, gross weight of each package, net weight of each package, total weight of shipment, price per unit as sold, and total value of shipment. U.S. exporters should also double check with their freight forwarder, shipping company or importer to find out if any other documentation, including bill of lading and packing list, is required. It is imperative to have these issues clear before the goods arrive at the Israeli port to avoid any possible delays and storage fees. Goods that have been transshipped through third countries require a Certificate of Non-Manipulation from the customs authority of the third country.
Tariffs and Taxes
All American goods exported to Israel have a tariff rate of zero (0) provided that they meet the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin. A product meets the U.S.-Israel FTA rule of origin if it is at least 35 percent American and/or Israeli origin.
An import port fee of 1.1% and an export port fee of .2 % is assessed. A VAT of 18% is applied (see formula below).
Other fees apply to certain products such as fuel, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and other goods produced locally for domestic consumption.
Labeling and Marking
All imports must have a label indicating the country of origin, the name and address of the manufacturer, the name and address of the Israeli importer, the contents, and the weight or volume in metric units. In all products, Hebrew must be used; English may be added provided the printed letters are no larger than those in Hebrew.
Marking should be performed by printing, engraving, stamping, or any other methods, on the package or the goods themselves. In case when marking is not suitable, a label should be properly sewn or stuck to the products or package. | 
