K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Council of Israeli Chief Rabbinate approves kashrut reforms

May 3, 2017- from the Arutz 7:

"he Council of the Chief Rabbinate accepted in full on Wednesday recommendations to reform the rabbinate’s kashrut licensing and supervision system made by a special advisory committee and published by Chief Rabbi David Lau last week."
"The reforms could reduce corruption and costs within the current system and increase the reliability of the rabbinate’s kashrut service, although critics have argued that only a repeal of the Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly over the industry will have a real and lasting impact."

Israeli Chief rabbi announces sweeping changes to kashrut supervision

April 23, 2017- from the IsraelHayom:

Israeli Chief Rabbi Lau is recommending reforms to the kosher supervision system to "eliminate an existing conflict of interest and ultimately reduce the cost of operating a food venue, resulting in lower prices for customers."
Lau's plan will allow tens of thousands of food businesses in Israel -- including restaurants, cafes, pizzerias, falafel stands, and other types of venues that serve food to choose between one of two new models of kashrut supervision: electronic monitoring, which costs less, or the 'kashrut trustee' model."
"The inspectors will no longer be paid by the food venue owners. Business owners will pay their local rabbinate, which will hire the inspectors as contract service providers rather than as employees of the local council. The reform is expected to eliminate the ties that exist today between business owners and inspectors, as well as the conflict of interest that is currently in place due to the inspectors being paid by the people whose businesses they approve."