The Knesset Finance Committee approved the first reading of a bill to require businesses, importers and exporters to indicate the "status" of kosher foods as "milk", "meat", or "parve" (neither). At the same time, the committee rejected a proposal to label food items containing animal products for the benefit of vegetarian consumers. The law was submitted by Knesset Member Uri Ariel (National Union), who said the initiative came following a request by the Health Ministry to create a level to standardize the labeling of ingredients in food products. Ariel also said merchant organizations have reported complaints from kosher customers that products are not marked. Knesset Finance Committee head Amnon Cohen said that while it would have been possible to implement the change through a directive of the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Employment, no such instructions have been issued. He suggested the proposal be added to existing laws prohibiting kashrut fraud, rather than consumer protection laws. He said a new law is unnecessary because the rabbinate is already authorized to issue such instructions