These tests are an important part of the control and superivsion of the quality of the food that enters these cities, and since the beginning of the year, 450 kilos of meat transported in trucks were destroyed, after having been found to be unfit for consumption.  In 2009, 584 kilos of meat were destroyed.

The authorities charge a fee for running these tests, by virtue of the municipal auxiliary law orders.  The test is part of the main legislation regarding beef and beef products and the auxiliary municipal legislation regarding poultry and poultry products.  The tarrif is 22 agorot per kilo of either poultry or beef.

In recent years, a 3-way agreement has been reached betwen the Union of Local Authorities in Israel, the Poultry Council and the poultry manufacturers, whereby the collection will be conducted by the Union of Local Authorities in a concentrated manner, and the testing will be conducted before the merchandise leaves the plant.  The Raanana and Kfar Saba authorities are not partners to this agreement since they feel it does not properly ensure public health.

At the end of 2009, some of the large suppliers decided not to pay the fee set by the authorities law, claiming that they had already paid it to the Poultry Council.  In response to this, we have notified these companies that in the event that they do not settle their bill, no secondary tests will be conducted for their products and they will not be allowed to supply their products in the two cities.

The poultry suppliers that continue to uphold our agreement and who continue to supply their products to the cities are:  Zoglobeck, Shaked Marketing, Itliz Zion Boaron, Bareket Chicken and Turkey Industries, Of Yerushalayim, Yaffa Of, Neto Melinda, Peer Habasar V’haof, Tal Hal Yisca, the Osem Industries Group, Baladi.