Shipment clearance for imported animal food products (fish and meat)

Shipment clearance for imported animal food products (fish and meat)

About the service

Once a shipment of animal products arrives at one of the crossings, and the importer notifies the veterinarian at the Ben Gurion Airport veterinary border inspection post, the shipment processing to release the goods begins.

This processing verifies additional documents which must be enclosed to complete the document submission process (see the list of these documents in the permit issue form at the veterinary border inspection post). If the documents are available and duly completed, the process of physically checking the shipment can begin.

During the physical check, products are identified and checked for safety and compatibility under Israeli law.

If the results show that everything is sound, a permit is issued to transfer the shipment to the cool storeroom and another entry permit into Israel is issued, provided that the shipment is not be subject to additional checks.

If the shipments need further inspection, a sample will be taken with the entry permit if the results of lab checks are sound.

While the permit to release the shipment and the entry permit are being issued, the animal products should be kept in a cool storeroom. It is prohibited to use them until the entry permit is issued.

Minimum terms for shipment clearance applications from the port/border crossing:

Actual existence of Israeli border crossings;
Notifying the veterinarian on duty at the land or air Veterinary Border Inspection Post of the arrival date of the shipment 48 - 24 hours prior to the arrival);
Submitting all required documents along with the application to issue a permit to release the shipment from the port as set forth in the Application Form.

There are three phases to the shipment clearance process:

Issuing a permit to release the shipment from the port;
Checking shipment contents - food items;
Issuing shipment entry permit to Israel.

Phase I - The veterinarian in charge at the Veterinary Border Inspection Post issues a permit to release the shipment from the port.

Service location

The application, along with the required documents are to be submitted to the following Veterinary Border Inspection Posts:

Ben Gurion Airport – contact Dr. Osnat Agam at: 050-6243493, daily 08:00-22:00;
Haifa – contact Dr. Malka Liveter at: 050-6242380, daily 08:00-16:00;
Sheikh Hussein Bridge Crossing – contact Dr. Malka Liveter at: 050-6242380, 48 hours in advance;
Ashdod – contact Dr. SimionKoshner at: 050-6242067, daily 08:00-16:00;
Nitsana – contact Dr. SimionKoshner at: 6242067-050, Sun & Wed;
Arava – Contact Dr. OsnatAgam at: 050-6243493, 48 hours in advance.

* To see visiting hours during Jewish holidays in September and October, as well as Passover, see “Public Statements” on this page

Required forms

Fill out the application form and enclose the documents therewith: https://www.health.gov.il/DocLib/DeliveryPort.pdf
1. Valid importer registration certificate;
2. Appropriate and valid import certificate enclosed with the required documents listed on the certificate;
3. Copy of gate pass;
4. Supplier invoice;
5. Packing list;
6. Bill of lading;
7. Original certificate of health (a unified and binding veterinary certificate of health is expected to be issued in a short time);
8. Tracking form (at Ben Gurion Airport only);
9. Temperature registry system inside the container (excluding fresh fish shipments);
10. Receipt (fees are subject to change and need to be checked occasionally);
11. A label sample stuck on the product(s) (you may provide scanned labels of the manufacturer outside the country or any other authorized labels taken from the shipment arriving at the border crossing;
12. Transport refrigeration license.
The validity of the required documents must be verified in accordance with the regulation and the contents of the shipment clearance application form.
In the event that it is necessary to complete or clarify port documents which were recorded during inspection, the documents should be returned to the applicant with the necessary comments. Issuing a “permit to release the shipment from the port” is subject to the availability of all valid documents or special approval from the relevant import agent.
Issuing the permit – When all required documents are available and completed, the veterinarian at the Veterinary Border Inspection Post issues a “permit to release the shipment from the port” to the refrigerated storeroom that was registered by the applicant in the application form in accordance with the list of licensed refrigerated storerooms and the importer certificate of registration in agreement with the regulation requirements of refrigeration storerooms / storage of animal products at the crossing. Then Phase II begins.

Phase II – Shipment content inspection process – inspection of food items

Non-processed, fresh food items

A veterinarian takes samples during shipment inspection (Phase I above) at the Veterinary Border Inspection Post. Frozen samples are then taken to a certified lab by the importer within a maximum of 12 hours from the sample taking.

Processed food items or non-processed / processed frozen items

Sampling should be carried out by a veterinarian in the veterinary unit. The importer then chooses a certified lab for sample testing (except unordinary cases stated in the unit’s regulations).
When the permit is received to release the shipment from the port, both the importer and the veterinarian in charge of sampling make arrangements to take the samples (the veterinarian’s data can be taken from the veterinary border inspection post which issued the permit to release the shipment from the port).
Sample are taken within a maximum of seven working days from the date of the importer’s request to set a date for taking samples, or within 30 days from the date of issuing a permit from the veterinary border inspection post.
Information regarding the period needed for inspection can be obtained directly from the lab where the sample is tested.

Phase III – Issuing shipment entry permit into Israel

Analyzing lab results – If the results are sound, the permit will be issued. Otherwise, the importer will be notified, and upon importer’s request, a new sample may be taken (with large amount) to a certified lab.
Analyzing results of new sample – If the results are sound, the permit will be issued. Otherwise, the importer will be notified that the shipment has been rejected.
In the case of non-processed food items – Once the required documents are verified and a physical inspection of the contents of the shipment is carried out, the shipment entry permit to Israel will be issued along with shipment release (except in cases where the shipment contents are required to be inspected in the lab, or in cases where the shipment is damaged).

Service details

Application processing period

Permit issuance:

Shipments of fresh food items – As soon as possible in the presence of a veterinarian (provided that the importer has given prior notification with regards the arrival of the shipment to the port.)

Shipments including frozen food items:

Issue a permit to release the shipment from the port – within 48 hours from submitting all documents, provided that the package of documents should be delivered in accordance with the regulation.
The process of food items inspection – within 7 days from the making arrangements with the veterinarian in charge to take a sample.
Entry permit to Israel from the port – within 48 hours of delivering sound results to the veterinarian who sends the sample to the veterinary border inspection post.

Fees

Land or air shipment – NIS 384

Sea shipment –1.00 NIS per 10 kg.

Fees are subject to change from time to time. Importer should review updates.

Fees may be paid via bank transfer to the local authority. The local authority account is 257737, Discount Bank, Hakiraya Branch #034, Israel.