Applying for the Registration of a New Importer (Of Non-animal-Based Food)

Who can file the application?

• Any company, corporation or licensed dealer that are registered in Israel can file an application for an importer registration certificate. 
• If the import is intended to reach the territories of the Palestinian Authority, holders of an identity document from the Palestinian Authority or a company, corporation or licensed dealer registered in the territories of the Palestinian Authority.

What is an importer registration certificate? 

• The certificate shows importers' names and details, among other things the details of the warehouse where the imported food will be stored. 
• The certificate is intended for the use of one specific importer and cannot be transferred to another importer. 
• The certificate is issued for a period of two years. 
• The certificate can be extended for two additional years each time. There is no limit on the number of times the certificate can be extended. 
• The importers must receive a valid certificate for the warehouse from the health bureau of the district where the warehouse is found.  
• If the warehouse or warehouses listed in the importer registration certificate are no longer valid, then the importer registration certificate itself loses its validity. 
• Any change to one or more of the details in this certificate requires the importer to contact the National Food Services in order to have a new registration certificate issued or to update the certificate.  

What are the threshold conditions for receiving the registration certificate? 

Importers are required to meet one of the following conditions:

• They need to have a license for a food storage business, suitable for the storage of the products that they intend to import, and file the necessary documents. 
• They need to have a contract with a business that provides storage and licensing services (when importing to the territories of the Palestinian Authority, there is no need for a warehouse). 

Importers of fruits and vegetables only:

• Are required to report the details of their warehouses. 
• Are required to declare that the warehouse is only used for fresh fruits. Storage licenses should be attached to the application. 

In the following cases, importer registration is not required and the process is handled by the inspectors at the quarantine stations: 

• Food shipments on behalf of UNRWA
• Import for foreign embassies, airlines and ships
• Personal import 

What documents should be attached to the application?

• Importer registration application (Hebrew) should be filed both for foods classified as "regular" and for foods classified as "sensitive".
• Importer declaration should be filed both for foods classified as "regular" and for foods classified as "sensitive".
• A copy of a valid manufacturer license in addition to a business license, in the following cases: 
  • Storage of food in a controlled temperature. 
  • Storage of food in the manufacturer's warehouses, including packaging actions. 
  • A copy of a valid business license for purposes of food storage only. 
  • A photocopy of an identity document or a "licensed dealer certificate" or a certificate from the Registrar of Companies in case that the importer is a corporation. 
  • If the importer wishes to store its products in the warehouse of a third party, a letter of confirmation from that third party attesting to their agreement to store the products of the party applying for an importer registration certificate. 
  • If the importer applies one time through the National Food Services portal, it is not required to also apply to the food service of the district where the importer's warehouse is located.  
  • The importer is not required to attach to the application the warehouse use certificate issued by the district food service. 

What are the changes that can be made in the importer registration certificate, and what documents are necessary for these changes? 

• Change of importer's name: 
  • An application to change the importer's name in the importer registration certificate. 
  • Certificate attesting to the company's change of name (from the Registrar of Companies only). 
  • A letter attesting that the importer assumes responsibility for the products currently on the market on which the former importer name is labeled. 
  • A letter of commitment to changing the importer name on product labels in future shipments. 
• Change of address: 
  • Certificate attesting to the change of address (from the Ministry of the Interior). 
  • A letter attesting that the importer assumes responsibility for the products currently on the market on which the former address is labeled. 
  • A letter of commitment to changing the address on product labels in future shipments. 
• Change of warehouse: 
  • Copy of a valid business license, and if the warehouse is a cold storage warehouse then a copy of a valid manufacturer license should also be attached.  
  • If the warehouse is not the importer's warehouse, then those applying for an importer registration certificate should attach a certificate of approval from a third party agreeing to the storage of imported food in their warehouse. 
  • A certificate from the health office of the district where the warehouse is located, stating that it does not object to the storage of the imported products in the warehouse of a third party. This certificate from the district health office can be received Sunday through Thursday between 08:00 and 17:00.

The service is provided free of charge

How do I file the application?

1. Only those who have a smart card and are registered in the portal can log in to the National Food Services' closed zone portal. 
2. New importers who do nםt have a smart card yet need to log in to the National Food Services portal and make the initial registration under the label of actions to be performed by unregistered users.   
3. Further information about purchasing a smart card (Hebrew). 
4. To file an application for a new importer registration certificate you do nםt need a smart card and you can file an application through the open zone as an unregistered user. 
   A smart card is required for extending the importer certificate and for taking any other action under a registered importer.

Further processing of the application

• If the form has been completed properly, and all of the required documents have been attached as required, an importer registration certificate will be issued within 10 business days from the date on which the application has been received. 
• If the application has been returned to sender for supplements, the certificate will be issued within 10 business days from the date on which the supplemented application has been received.