Moroccan Producers Respond to Boycotts and Call for Support
In recent developments, Moroccan fruit and vegetable producers have voiced their strong opposition to the boycotts initiated by certain Spanish organizations and associations against products originating from Morocco, particularly agricultural goods. These producers are adamant in rejecting the manipulation of recent events, such as the situation in Ceuta, aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Moroccan products and leveraging the agricultural sector for political gain during election campaigns. To address these challenges, Moroccan exporters are urging the Spanish government to uphold its legal and organizational responsibilities in ensuring compliance with the agricultural agreements established between Morocco and the European Union. They emphasize the need for secure supply chains and distribution routes within Spanish territory, while also calling on the Moroccan government to intervene to protect farmers and their investments from various forms of harassment.
Consumer Associations and Agricultural Unions Respond
The ACUSVAL consumer protection association in Valdemoro, Spain, has notably urged consumers within the European nation to avoid purchasing Moroccan products by scrutinizing product labels prior to buying, citing alleged "pressures and Moroccan policies" related to the cities of Ceuta and Melilla. In response, COAG, the Union of Farmers and Livestock Breeders, represented by its Secretary General Andrés Gongora Belmonte, expressed concerns that the recent tensions surrounding Ceuta could lead to greater concessions to the Moroccan government, allowing agricultural importers to gain easier access to the European Union and Spain. Gongora highlighted the significant labor cost discrepancies, noting that for every ten euros spent on labor in production, Morocco incurs only one euro, resulting in a competitive disadvantage for Spanish producers of labor-intensive crops like tomatoes, green beans, and strawberries. He pointed out this unfair competition stemming from varying regulations that do not exist in Morocco.
In response to these ongoing campaigns, Ahmed Bounama, President of the United Farmers Association in Souss, highlighted that the issue of targeting Moroccan agricultural products tends to surface with the approach of every electoral cycle in Spain. He stressed the importance of recognizing these developments to avoid ongoing problems that put Moroccan farmers and exporters in a continuous state of uncertainty, forcing them to operate under conditions fraught with risks and inadequate protections for their investments. Bounama insisted that the Moroccan government, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), must act decisively to safeguard Moroccan farmers and ensure the seamless entry of their products into Spanish and European markets. He also called upon the Spanish side to adhere to the terms of the comprehensive partnership agreement established between Morocco and the European Union, especially as both parties look toward broader partnerships that extend beyond agriculture into economic sectors and joint coordination for major events like the World Cup.
Rejecting various justifications sometimes presented regarding the failure of Moroccan products to meet health safety standards, Bounama noted that alert notifications directed to other countries exporting agricultural products to Europe far exceed those received by Moroccan products, which have made significant strides in adhering to quality standards. In fact, he pointed out that alerts concerning Spanish products are significantly more frequent than those regarding their Moroccan counterparts. Furthermore, Ali Bida, an exporter from the southern regions of Morocco, explained that the harassment faced by Moroccan agricultural exports in the Spanish market manifests in new forms each time, often attempting to connect these issues to political events or emergencies in the region. Nonetheless, he affirmed that Moroccan producers and exporters continue their export activities, thanks to ongoing coordination and support from responsible authorities within the kingdom, albeit sometimes under challenging conditions.
Bida further emphasized that certain agricultural associations in Spain are politicizing this issue, exploiting events to sway public opinion and exert pressure on Moroccan products. He underscored the necessity for the Spanish government to ensure the respect of the strategic agreement established between the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union, which guarantees participation in a shared and open European market. He noted that the current situation in Spain, wherein licensed Moroccan trucks face obstruction and major retailers are pressured to stop selling Moroccan products, constitutes a blatant violation of the signed agreement, asserting that the Spanish government bears direct responsibility for countering these practices and ensuring the implementation of the law.
As reported by hespress.com.
