Morocco Halts Spanish Cattle Imports, Sparking Beef Price Surge Fears

According to sources from the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) cited by the daily Al Akhbar, this measure aims to prevent any contamination and to protect the Moroccan herd. A preventive vaccination campaign will be launched in the coming days to protect local cattle against this disease. Beef is not affected by this suspension, it is specified.

The Spanish authorities, for their part, have announced the temporary suspension of the export of calves to Morocco, after the detection of the virus known as the nodular infectious skin disease in three cattle in the northeast of Catalonia. This virus is one of the dangerous and contagious animal diseases, which calls for urgent measures to limit its spread.

This decision will have a direct impact on prices in Morocco, which mainly imports calves from Spain, due to the geographical proximity with this country and the relatively low logistical costs. With this temporary suspension of imports, Moroccan professionals fear a drop in supply and a rise in prices, between 10 and 20 dirhams per kilogram of beef.

"The freeze on Spanish exports is temporary and purely preventive. We are closely monitoring the situation, in coordination with the Spanish health authorities, and we remain ready to diversify our supply sources to avoid any supply crisis," reassures a representative of ONSSA. In the meantime, Moroccan importers can turn to France or Portugal.