Bubble gum in Israel is a packaged confectionery product sold primarily through supermarkets and convenience/kiosk channels, including via on-demand delivery platforms. Imported branded products are visibly present in Israeli retail listings, including Mars Wrigley brands such as Orbit and Hubba Bubba. For market entry, the Ministry of Health’s National Food Services supervises imported food through importer registration, declaration/confirmation processes for regular food, and shipment release after arrival inspections. Packaged foods marketed in Israel are subject to Israeli nutrition labeling requirements, including front-of-pack red symbols when nutrient thresholds are exceeded (implemented from January 2020).
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market
Domestic RoleImpulse confectionery / breath-freshening and leisure chewing category in retail and convenience channels
Specification
Physical Attributes
Common consumer formats in Israel retail include pellet gum and stick/bubble-gum pieces, with fruit and mint flavor profiles
Packaging
Small pack formats (multi-piece packs, bottles) designed for impulse purchase at checkout and convenience channels
Hebrew/nutrition labeling compliance is required for packaged foods; front-of-pack red symbols apply when thresholds are exceeded under Israeli regulations
Ambient, dry storage and transport; avoid heat exposure that can soften gum and degrade flavor quality during distribution
Shelf Life
Shelf-stable packaged product; inventory buffering is feasible compared with perishable foods
Freight IntensityLow
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighNoncompliance with Israel’s Ministry of Health import controls for regular food (importer registration, online declaration/confirmation, and shipment release inspection) and with packaged-food labeling rules (including front-of-pack red symbols where applicable) can lead to clearance delays, detention, relabeling requirements, or refusal to release the shipment.Use a pre-shipment compliance checklist aligned to Ministry of Health National Food Services requirements; complete label review (Hebrew/nutrition/red-symbol applicability) and maintain importer registration + declaration confirmations before booking freight.
Religious Dietary MediumKosher status is commercially important in many Israeli retail channels; missing, unclear, or disputed kosher markings can limit distribution even if the product is legally importable.If targeting kosher channels, align early with the importer on required kosher certification pathway and keep auditable documentation supporting the product’s kosher marking.
FAQ
What HS code does Israel Customs use for chewing gum (bubble gum)?Israel’s customs tariff book classifies chewing gum under HS 1704.10 (e.g., tariff line 1704100000 for “Chewing gum, whether or not sugar-coated”), per the Israel Tax Authority customs tariff system.
Is bubble gum treated as “regular food” under Israel’s Ministry of Health import process for non-animal-based foods?Bubble gum falls under non-animal-based processed foods and is typically handled under the Ministry of Health National Food Services framework for imported food; the Ministry’s import unit describes “regular food” as including products like candy and uses an online declaration/confirmation process for regular (non-sensitive) food, followed by inspection/release on arrival.
Is kosher certification legally required to import bubble gum into Israel?Kosher certification is not a legal requirement to import food into Israel, but it can be commercially important for access to many Israeli retail channels; Israeli retail listings show some bubble-gum products explicitly marketed as kosher.