What will happen to meat prices due to new veterinary rules
Israel's Agriculture Ministry has revoked the import permit for chicken meat from Brazil granted to company 'Baladi' just six months ago. New veterinary service head Dr. Sergio Dolev explained the decision by a lack of kosher guarantees at Brazilian facilities. The importer expected revenue growth of 10–15% (about 400 million shekels). Cheap imports were meant to curb inflation and lower chicken prices, but now they will likely remain high. The dispute reached the High Court of Justice, with a verdict expected no earlier than November 18.
Israel's Agriculture Ministry has revoked the import permit for chicken meat from Brazil granted to company 'Baladi' just six months ago. The new head of the veterinary service, Dr. Sergio Dolev, sent importers a notice explaining the move by a lack of reliable guarantees of kosher standards at Brazilian facilities. For Baladi, this is a serious blow: the business counted on Brazilian supplies as a key growth driver capable of raising revenues by 10–15% annually — about 400 million shekels. For ordinary consumers, this is also painful: in a market with an annual turnover of about 20 billion shekels dominated by large domestic producers, cheap imports were meant to counter inflation and cool chicken prices. Now the cost of this popular meat will likely remain at its previous high level. Israel is a world leader in chicken consumption: in 2024, the figure reached about 49 kilograms per capita. The industry involves about 590 farms selling over half a million tons of product annually. A kilogram of chicken fillet in Israeli stores costs about 70 shekels, while the global average price is three times lower. Over the past five years, the chicken price index rose 30%, outpacing beef (+20%) and fish (+18%). The situation is compounded by the international context: the European Union plans to impose similar restrictions on Brazilian poultry over safety concerns regarding potential antibiotic use. Baladi's management accuses the Chief Rabbinate of artificially delaying the issuance of regulations. The dispute reached the Supreme Court (High Court of Justice), with a verdict expected no earlier than November 18. The Agriculture Ministry is ready to reconsider the ban if the Brazilian side documents compliance of local factories with Israeli kosher and sanitary control criteria.