Morocco Bans Plant Imports to Combat Deadly Bacteria Threat

The Office’s warning is very serious and concerns plants, ornamental plants and seeds. Importing them could bring the Xylella fastidiosa bacteria into the national territory. Thus "any plant introduced by travelers will be seized and destroyed in accordance with the regulations in force," the Office said in a statement.

As a precautionary measure, ONSSA announces that it has strengthened the phytosanitary control system for the import of plants at border posts. Only plants that are phytosanitarily compliant are admitted on the basis of a prior import authorization issued by ONSSA and a phytosanitary certificate issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin.

Any traveler who does not comply with these instructions will be subject to the regulations in force in Morocco. The Xylella fastidiosa bacterium is a plant-specific disease, and "is neither present in Morocco, nor transmissible to humans or animals". The purpose of this measure is to prevent it from invading the territory that the Office has taken these measures.