According to the economic publication The Marker, the company has received approval from the Israel Ministry of Agriculture’s veterinary service, but the Poultry Producers Organization has filed a lawsuit against the decision, claiming that importing chicken from Brazil poses a threat to public health.
The importers provided the court with an opinion from Tamir Goshen, head of the Agriculture Ministry’s veterinary service, who emphasized that Brazilian products are no more dangerous than Israeli products, and possibly even superior in quality. Goshen recalled that Israeli chicken meat is not exported to developed countries, including the United States and the European Union, because it does not meet a number of international standards, while Brazilian chicken meets the standards and is sold for export.
Moti Elkabetz, head of the Poultry Farmers Organization, sharply criticized the position of the country’s chief veterinarian: “If the chief poultry veterinarian in Israel himself discredits the quality of Israeli products – he should resign.”
One of the main arguments of supporters of imports is prices. According to the CSB, chicken prices in Israel have increased by about 33-35% since 2021, far exceeding the increase in fish and beef prices. Baladi argues that opening the market to imports will reduce prices by tens of percent, and that the poultry farmers’ lawsuit is merely an attempt to avoid competition.
