Israel increased livestock imports by 51%

Israel increased livestock imports in the first quarter of the year. 207,214 calves and lambs arrived in the ports of the country, which is significantly more than in the period from January to March 2020 (136,983 heads). Last year, a total of 601,741 animals were brought to Israel, down 90,000 from 2019, a historical record for livestock imports.

Israel is the fourth largest consumer of beef and veal in the OECD after Brazil, the United States and Argentina, with annual per capita beef consumption in 2018 of 20.5 kg, reaching 137,000 tonnes.

The live animal import figures are sparking protests from activists such as animal rights organization Animals Now. “The dizzying growth in the number of live deliveries proves that the Minister of Agriculture shows contempt for the state comptroller and the Israeli public. While 86% of Israelis support a law banning the supply of live animals, the Ministry of Agriculture is taking advantage of the political situation. By 2021, live deliveries should already be history,” the organization said in a statement, quoted by the Times of Israel newspaper.

The Ministry of Economy gradually increased quotas for duty-free imports of chilled meat. Last year, it was allowed to import more than 21,000 tons of it, of which 17,500 tons were subject to duty-free import quotas, and the rest - under bilateral agreements. However, this is only a small drop in the ocean of meat consumption in the country. The shipping, fattening and slaughter market in the country is controlled by two companies: Tnuva and Dabbach.