Morocco to Ban Harmful Pesticides Outlawed in Europe, Including Paraquat

The products concerned, such as Paraquat, are harmful to human health and the environment and would, according to studies, cause certain cancers and serious illnesses.

The responsibility for banning these dangerous products on Moroccan soil lies with the National Office of Sanitary Safety of Food Products (ONSSA) and the National Commission on Agricultural Pesticides. Pending the taking of this measure, several tons of dangerous pesticides banned on European soil continue to be exported to 85 countries around the world, including Morocco, according to a report by the NGOs "Greenpeace" and "Public Eye".

According to ONSSA, only 8 out of the 41 substances mentioned in the report are affected by the measure in Morocco. Among them, 4 have already been withdrawn from the national market, namely: Propargite, Atrazine, Carbendazim and Acetochlor. The withdrawal of Paraquat, 1.3 Dichloropropene, Hydrogen Cyanamide and Triasulfuron will be effective during the year.