Israel to Greatly Increase Cheese Import Quotas to Help Cut Prices

Jerusalem, 20 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — As part of the fight against the high cost of living in Israel, the Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich has decided to increase cheese import quotas by approximately 70%. The move, said his office, is expected to “significantly increase competition and force large dairies to gradually lower prices as imported cheeses enter the country.”

Cheeses in Israel are 50% more expensive than the average in European countries. Hard cheeses even cost twice as much as the average price in OECD countries.

According to the move, the exemption quota will increase from 11,500 tons per year to 19,500 tons, an addition of 8,000 tons — a 70% increase in the volume of exempt imports.

The increased quota will take effect from January 2026 and will be valid for two years, with the Minister being able to extend it.