Notifications for Morocco (123 notifications)

The notified draft Joint Order has been prepared taking into account new developments in international standards on contaminants and in order to provide regulations that guarantee the safety of locally produced or imported food products and to harmonize official controls so that decisions may be made on the compliance of food products with maximum contaminant levels.

In light of the recent cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza reported by Belgium, measures have been taken to prohibit the importation into Morocco of poultry of any species, poultry meat, poultry meat products, eggs and egg products from Belgium. The ban does not apply to poultry meat, poultry meat products and egg products that have been heat-treated to destroy the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, in accordance with OIE recommendations. Upon importation, these products must be accompanied by a sanitary certificate and a certificate issued by the health authorities stating that they have been heat-treated.

Lifting of the mesure d'urgence, appliquée par le Maroc, relative à la prohibition d'importation de volailles, viandes de volailles et produits à base de ces viandes, œufs et ovoproduits et d'aliments pour animaux à partir de Belgique (emergency measure, applied by Morocco, prohibiting the importation from Belgium of poultry, poultry meat, poultry meat products, eggs, egg products and animal feed) In light of the measures taken by the Belgian veterinary authorities, in accordance with the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, to eradicate all declared outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, Morocco has decided to lift the ban on imports of poultry from this country. Thus, poultry, poultry products and animal feed from Belgium may be imported into Morocco, provided that they are accompanied by previously validated health certificate models agreed jointly between the two countries.

L'arrêté conjoint No. 1289-22 du 9 chaoual 1434 (10 mai 2022) fixant la liste des produits microbiologiquement très périssables, leur date limite de consommation et la température de leur conservation (Joint Order No. 1289-22 of 10 May 2022 (9 chaoual) establishing the list of microbiologically highly perishable products, their use-by date and storage temperature) The adoption of Draft Joint Order No. 1289-22 du 9 chaoual 1434 (10 mai 2022) establishing the list of microbiologically highly perishable products, their use-by date and storage temperature was published in the Official Journal. http://www.onssa.gov.ma/images/reglementation/transversale/ARR.1289-22.AR.pdf

Projet d'arrêté conjoint du ministre de l'agriculture, de la pêche maritime, du développement rural et des eaux et forêts et du ministre de la santé et de la protection sociale n°1289-22 du 9 chaoual 1434 (10 mai 2022) fixant la liste des produits microbiologiquement très périssables, leur date limite de consommation et la température de leur conservation (Draft Joint Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, Water Resources and Forestry and the Minister of Health and Social Protection No. 1289-22 of 10 May 2022 (9 chaoual 1434) establishing the list of microbiologically highly perishable products, their use-by date and storage temperature) The notified draft Order repeals the Joint Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, Water Resources and Forestry, the Minister of Marine Fisheries and the Minister of Health No. 440-01 of 26 February 2001 (2 hija 1421) on shelf life and storage requirements of certain food products. The change concerns processed cheese and cheese-based food preparations: list of microbiologically highly perishable products, their use-by date and storage temperature. https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/MAR/22_4077_00_f.pdf

Projet de document sanitaire pour l'exportation vers le Maroc des produits végétaux et d'origine végétale et des produits alimentaires non-soumis à certification vétérinaire obligatoire (Draft sanitary document for exports to Morocco of plants and plant products and food products that are not subject to mandatory veterinary certification) Morocco hereby notifies the final version of the draft sanitary document for exports to Morocco of plants and plant products and food products that are not subject to mandatory veterinary certification, and a list of the products concerned (document previously notified in G/SPS/N/MAR/56 and the addenda thereto, G/SPS/N/MAR/56/Add.1 and G/SPS/N/MAR/56/Add.2). https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/MAR/22_4075_00_e.pdf

Law No. 76-17 on plant protection established, on the basis of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), signed in Rome on 6 December 1951 and enacted by Dahir No. 1-73-439 of 14 Hija 1393 (8 January 1974), the Moroccan legal framework that enables the State to monitor and control pests with a view to ensuring the phytosanitary protection of plants throughout national territory. The notified draft Decree establishes a number of specific provisions concerning the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), which, pursuant to Article 2 of Law No. 25-08 creating ONSSA, performs functions, on behalf of the State, relating to the protection of plant health and phytosanitary inspection. Accordingly, the notified draft Decree sets out: (1) The framework within which phytosanitary surveillance is conducted in Morocco by the relevant ONSSA departments. (2) The phytosanitary control measures applicable to plants, plant products and other items upon importation, during transit and upon exportation, and the phytosanitary control measures applicable during the production, planting and circulation of propagation material and plants. The notified Decree, which is based primarily on the provisions of the IPPC's International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures, will enable Morocco to ensure that its regulations are consistent with international standards as regards phytosanitary surveillance in the event of the emergence of new plant diseases, and will help the country prevent any quarantine pests from entering. G/SPS/N/MAR/85 - 2 -

Given that processed cheeses and certain cheese-based food preparations contain perishable dairy ingredients that deteriorate considerably in quality when on sale for long periods, expiry dates for such products are thus required in order to provide consumers with healthy and good quality products.

Following reports of a number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza affecting poultry in Canada, imports from that country of poultry, birds of any species and hatching eggs have been suspended.

Following reports of a number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza affecting poultry in Spain, imports from that country of poultry meat, poultry meat products, table eggs and egg products have been suspended.

In light of the recent cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza reported by Belgium, measures have been introduced to prohibit the importation into Morocco of poultry of any species, poultry meat, poultry meat products, eggs and egg products from Belgium. The ban does not apply to poultry meat, poultry meat products and egg products that have been heat-treated to destroy the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, in accordance with OIE recommendations. Upon importation, these products must be accompanied by a sanitary certificate and a certificate issued by the relevant health authorities confirming that they have been heat-treated.

Following reports of a number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza among poultry in Hungary, imports of poultry meat and poultry meat products from that country are banned until further notice.

Following reports of a number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza among poultry in Ireland, imports of poultry meat and poultry meat products from that country are banned until further notice.

Following reports of a number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in Italy, imports from that country of poultry meat and poultry meat products, eggs and egg products, and animal feed are banned until further notice. The ban does not apply to animal feed that has been heat-treated to destroy the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, in accordance with OIE recommendations. Upon importation, these products must be accompanied by a sanitary certificate and a certificate issued by the relevant health authorities confirming that they have been heat-treated.

Following reports of a number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in the Netherlands, imports from that country of birds of any species, poultry, poultry meat and poultry meat products, eggs and egg products, and animal feed are banned until further notice. The ban does not apply to animal feed that has been heat-treated to destroy the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, in accordance with OIE recommendations. Upon importation, these products must be accompanied by a sanitary certificate and a certificate issued by the relevant health authorities confirming that they have been heat-treated.

The Order on table olives, issued under Article 3 of Decree No. 2-20-422 on the quality and food safety of preserved and semi-preserved vegetables, aims primarily to: - Establish the names of table olives according to the processing method used; - determine the presentation of the product and the defect thresholds permitted by type and category of olive; - classify olives according to level of ripeness - establish the physico-chemical characteristics of table olive brine; and - provide for the specific information to be included on labelling. https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/MAR/21_6989_00_f.pdf

The purpose of the Order setting out the names and characteristics of preserved tomatoes is to establish a regulatory framework for the preserved and semi-preserved vegetable sector within the framework of the new legislation on the safety of food products. The Order issued under Article 3 of Decree No. 2-20-422 on the quality and food safety of preserved and semi-preserved vegetables aims primarily to: - Provide a definition of tomato concentrate and preserved tomatoes; - establish names for tomato concentrate taking into account dry matter, and for preserved tomatoes taking into account the presentation of the product; - determine the physico-chemical characteristics of tomato concentrate; - specify the packing media used and the ingredients authorized for preserved tomatoes; and - provide for the specific information to be included on labelling. https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/MAR/21_6990_00_f.pdf

Draft previously notified in document G/SPS/N/MAR/67 of 27 April 2020 regarding phytosanitary measures to prevent the introduction of Xylella fastidiosa into Morocco and maintain the country's pest-free status with regard to this bacteria. https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/MAR/21_6438_00_f.pdf

Draft previously notified in document G/SPS/N/MAR/72 dated 26 November 2020 on the phytosanitary measures governing the importation into the Kingdom of Morocco of plant seeds. https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/MAR/21_6439_00_f.pdf

The draft notified in document G/SPS/N/MAR/47 dated 3 March 2017 has now been adopted by Dahir No. 1.21.66 of 14 July 2021 regarding Law No. 76-17 on plant protection. https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/MAR/21_6440_00_x.pdf