The European Union has put in place new rules for the labeling of products originating from areas in Palestine that are under Israeli control since 1967.

The move comes amid unrest between Israel and Palestinians. Israel is confronting a wave of terrorism targeting any and all of its citizens.

Condemning EU decision on labeling Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: "Israel regrets that the EU has chosen, for political reasons, to take such an exceptional and discriminatory step, inspired by the boycott movement, at a time when Israel is confronting a wave of terrorism targeting any and all of its citizens."

The new rules will require Israeli producers to label farm goods and other products that come from Israeli settlements if they are sold in the European Union.

Applicable to fresh fruit and vegetables, wine, honey, olive oil, eggs, poultry, organic products and cosmetics, the regulation specifies that products from these regions must be labeled as coming from settlements instead of being labeled 'Made in Israel'.

European Commission spokesman was quoted by The New York Times as saying that 'Made in Israel' products are subject to little or no tariffs in the European markets, but products coming from the settlements cannot benefit from such preferences.

European countries like Britain, Belgium and Denmark are already implementing such labeling rules in order to differentiate between the products coming from Israel proper and the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank.

The new rules will make it mandatory for all 28 EU member states to apply the labeling.

 

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