Report: EU won’t import poultry from settlements -
By Haaretz | May 22, 2014
▻http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.592203
The European Union recently informed Israel’s Agriculture Ministry that it does not recognize the ministry’s veterinary supervision beyond the Green Line and thus refuses to import poultry and eggs from West Bank settlements, the Israeli site Walla reported.
The restriction on such imports is in line with a footnote within the EU guidelines that went into effect in January, restricting business and trade with Israeli entities located in the West Bank. The EU informed Israel that as a result, poultry imported from settlements would not be recognized as having undergone the required veterinary supervision.
According to the report, Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir was surprised by the notification and assured Israeli veterinary supervision beyond the 1967 borders is no different than within. It also notes that only 5 percent of the poultry produced by Israel originates in the settlements.
Jerusalem and Brussels have been in contact in recent weeks to try and resolve the issue, and an Israeli official is quoted by Walla as saying it is one of the “strangest diplomatic disputes” he has encountered.
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