On Friday, April 5, the Spanish authorities issued an alert on melons imported from Morocco, stating that a shipment contained "potentially dangerous" levels of pesticides. According to Spanish media reports, the alert did not specify the variety and exporter of the concerned shipment. In response to rising Spanish alerts, several Moroccan exporters accuse Spain of "weaponizing and abusing the RASSF system and using it in unfair competition schemes."
Ahmed Bouljid, a Moroccan exporter of various fresh produce, says, "Enough is enough. The Spanish are abusing the fake RASSF alerts. They did it recently with watermelons, then last month with strawberries. They keep on doing it because it works and it passes with impunity."
The exporter continues, "It's always the same pattern. They make unfounded accusations, concealing many dubious details, as part of smear campaigns to harm Moroccan origin. We then learn that these accusations are false, and prove them wrong, but the damage is already done. These unfair methods must be stopped."
"Curiously, problems are only detected when the concerned products are in direct competition with Spanish growers. And it's always Spain that detects these problems. Why is it never another country or other products?" he says.
The exporter emphasizes the "rigorous" controls that Moroccan products undergo before being exported: "we have two control bodies that are rigorous and uncompromising, the ONSSA and Morocco Foodex. Absolutely every shipment leaving the country is subject to meticulous inspections by these two organizations. Every single shipment is flawlessly traceable."
Bouljid concludes, "No Moroccan producer or exporter will shoot themselves in the foot, compromising their business and Moroccan agribusiness in general, by exporting a product that doesn't meet destination standards."
For more information:
Ahmed Bouljid
Entrepôt Frigorifique Lexus
Tel: +212 661-177735
Email: [email protected]