Overview
- Dairy farmers stopped supplying milk to dairies Tuesday morning to protest Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s industry reform.
- Retailers reported localized shortages and set purchase limits, with Rami Levi citing shortfalls in the north and Machsanei Hashuk and Carrefour capping buys at two items.
- Industry sources said several production lines were idled last week, creating an estimated 20% shortfall that has fed consumer stockpiling.
- The reform, approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation last month, is projected by the Finance Ministry to save the public 1–2 billion shekels annually.
- Key measures include abolishing production quotas, removing tariffs, shifting to an open market, adding a producer safety net, and phasing in a quota buyback, while Smotrich warned he would scrap all dairy tariffs if supplies stay halted.