Morocco: Alert on Adulterated Olive Oil

– bySaid A. · 1 min read
Morocco: Alert on Adulterated Olive Oil

The Moroccan Observatory for Consumer Protection has called on the National Office of Sanitary Safety of Food Products (ONSSA) to intensify its inspections following the seizure of more than nine tons of non-compliant olive oil. The organization stresses that the opening of 58 legal proceedings is a positive step, but remains insufficient given the scale of fraud in this strategic sector.

The consumer protection body insists on the need to move from seasonal vigilance to permanent control extending across the entire production and distribution chain. The focus is on monitoring informal sales points and popular markets, areas where the risks of commercial deception are considered highest. The Observatory recalls that the use of fraudulent labeling to mask adulterated products directly threatens the health safety of citizens, transforming a basic product into a public health issue.

To increase the effectiveness of these measures, the organization recommends an expansion of laboratory analysis protocols, aimed in particular at detecting illicit mixtures and chemical alterations. It also supports a proactive approach to removing questionable products from commercial channels before they reach the final consumer. At the same time, the Observatory advocates for the systematic publication of investigation results and, where the law allows, the names of offenders, in order to establish a climate of transparency and ensure the deterrent effect of criminal sanctions.