Government plan to bring EU to reconsider restrictions on tomato imports

Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Sea Fisheries Habib El Malki said Tuesday the government has devised a plan to convince the European Union to reconsider its restrictions on imports of Moroccan tomatoes.

El Malki said in the weekly question time at the Chamber of Advisors (upper chamber) that he is convinced that the plan devised by professional associations, exporters and competent ministries will be welcome by some EU members who will, then, understand the legitimacy of Moroccan claims.

Morocco insists on the respect of the association agreement signed with the EU in 1995, on a dialogue regarding the issue of agricultural products and the suspension of the decision to require import visas for Moroccan tomatoes as a decision that runs counter to the World Trade Organization's principles and philosophy.

He further announced that Morocco is drafting a legal consultation to file the issue at the WTO as the EU is making a restrictive interpretation of the partnership agreement. Likewise the government is also studying how to support producers and exporters and guarantee the sale to Russia and North America of the volume which was initially destined for the European market.

Meanwhile, the association of fruits and vegetables producers and exporters (APEFEL) called members to stage a sit-in in front of the European Commission representation in Rabat to protest the European decision. The association called its members to react firmly and condemn the arbitrary measure which will have a bad incidence on Moroccan agriculture.