According to a new memo from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, goods entering the U.S. from the West Bank must no longer be labeled as “From Israel.”
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This move copies a recent EU mandate that says products can not be labeled as being from Israel if they come from the Wast Bank or Golan Heights.
While these areas are considered “disputed” under international law, the Israeli government does not see it that way and neither did the U.S. government, even in the face of a 1995 law requiring the current actions.
What sparked the change were a series of complaints by Palestinian organizations in the U.S. that have been pushing for a boycott of all Israeli goods.
In the statement, the agency says:
“Goods that are erroneously marked as products of Israel will be subject to an enforcement action carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”
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From U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
The purpose of this message is to provide guidance to the trade community regarding the country
of origin marking requirements for goods that are manufactured in the West Bank.
Per Treasury Decisions 95-25 and 97-16 (see attachments), unless excepted by statute (19 U.S.C. §1304) or regulation (19 C.F.R. §134), goods produced in the West Bank or Gaza Strip shall be marked as originating from ‘‘West Bank,’’ ‘‘Gaza,’’ ‘‘Gaza Strip,’’ ‘‘West Bank/Gaza,’’ ‘‘West Bank/Gaza Strip,’’ ‘‘West Bank and Gaza,’’ or ‘‘West Bank and Gaza Strip.’’ It is not acceptable to mark the aforementioned goods with the words ‘‘Israel,’’ ‘‘Made in Israel,’’ ‘‘Occupied Territories-Israel,’’ or any variation thereof. Goods that are erroneously marked as products of Israel will be subject to an enforcement action carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Goods entering the United States must conform to the U.S. marking statute and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Read more at U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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