Tomato growers protest EU import certificate requirement

Premier Abderrahman Youssoufi invited tomato growers to unite and work in coordination with the different departments involved to avoid linkage of agriculture and fisheries.

Youssoufi made the statement after a meeting Wednesday with associations of fruit and vegetable producers and exporters "APEFEL" and "ASPAM," who postponed a sit-in before the EU delegation in Rabat to protest the requirement of import certificates for Moroccan tomatoes as of Jan. 1.

French fruit and vegetable importing firms denounced the European Commission decision, saying it would spell chaos in markets and lead to ruin, blaming Spanish-controlled firms for "abusive behavior" at the Perpignan international market.