1.

Notifying Member: ISRAEL

If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible:

Israel WTO-TBT Enquiry Point

Ministry of Economy and Industry

Tel: + (972) 74 7502236

E-mail: Yael.Friedgut@service.economy.gov.il

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], Other:

4.

Products covered (HS codes or national tariff lines. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Food additives (ICS code(s): 67.220.20)

5.

Details of notified document(s) (title, number of pages and languages, means of access): Public Health Protection (Food) (Application of Changes to the Annex to the EU Regulation 231/2012 - Specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament), 5785 – 2025; (15 page(s), in Hebrew)

Link to notified document(s) and/or contact details for agency or authority which can provide copies upon request:

https://moj.my.salesforce.com/sfc/dist/version/download/?oid=00D1t000000uX5h&ids=068Qu00000LHH6o&d=%2Fa%2FQu0000046VGZ%2F1o62TnZ1TEixWuZA3BuICVcSAifQet1iLgQjz91eNI8&asPdf=false

6.

Description of content: Commission Regulation (EU) 231/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2012 sets the specifications for the food additives detailed in Annexes II and III of the EU Regulation 1333/2008. This Regulation was adopted in Israel as part of Amendment No. 10 to the Public Health Protection (Food) Law, 5776 - 2015 (notified in G/TBT/N/ISR/1332/Rev.1), and appears in item 8 of the Second Annex A to the Law. This EU Regulation was applied in full, in addition to the exceptions as stated in Section 3A(a1) to (a5) of the Law.

On 14 May 2025, a notice was published in Israel's Official Gazette, which applied in Israel all changes that had already entered into force in the European Union up until 27 October 2024.

It is now proposed to apply in full further changes to the adopted Regulation 231/2012, which have been or will be applied in the European Union.

The main point of this proposed notice relates to the conditions of use of the following food additives:

·_        Inclusion of the specifications for 'Steviol glycosides from fermentation' that were added to the EU list under 1333/2008 - adoption of (EU) 2025/652 - Proposed date of entry into force 25 August 2025;

·_        Update specifications for cellulose (E 460), methyl cellulose (E 461), ethyl cellulose (E 462), hydroxypropyl cellulose (E 463), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (E 464), ethyl methyl cellulose (E 465), sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum (E 466), cross-linked sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cross linked cellulose gum (E 468) and enzymatically hydrolysed carboxy methyl cellulose (E 469) - Adoption of (EU) 2025/666 - Proposed date of entry into force 27 December 2025.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: Harmonization; Reducing trade barriers and facilitating trade; Cost saving and productivity enhancement

8.

Relevant documents:

·_        Announcement of the opening of the change for public comments;

·_        Notice of the Food Service Administration in accordance with Section 3A(c) of the Law;

·_        Protection of Public Health Law (Food) 5776-2015;

·_        RIA;

·_        Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Relevant notifications:

·_        G/TBT/N/ISR/1332/Rev.1

9.

Proposed date of adoption: To be determined

Proposed date of entry into force:

As detailed under Item 6 of this notification, following the entry into force of these adopted regulations in the European Union.

10.

Provision of comments

Final date for comments: 11 October 2025

[X] 60 days from notification

Contact details of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification:

Israel's WTO-TBT Enquiry Point

Email: Yael.Friedgut@Service.economy.gov.il