Morocco: the issue of Algerian dates reaches parliament

The Popular Movement group says it is concerned about the import of Algerian dates that do not meet sanitary standards. In a question addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, Mohamed Sidiki, it reported that social networks and some news sites have extensively addressed the issue, generally warning against the consumption of dates imported from the eastern neighbor, based on foreign reports. In February, the Iberian press reported that the health authorities of several European and American countries had taken a decision banning this essential food for many Moroccans during the month of Ramadan.

The Haraki group also asked the minister for clarification on the sanitary control of the dates offered on the markets, the control methods adopted to avoid the marketing of products that do not comply with international health standards. It also called for the need to publish press releases to reassure the population about the quality of the imported dates.

Responding to a written question addressed to him last year by Saïd Baaziz, a deputy from the socialist group in the House of Representatives, Minister Mohamed Sidiki had stated that ensuring the quality and safety of dates remains one of the priorities of the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA), as is the case for other food products, through regular control in the local market and at import. Insisting that all imported dates, regardless of their origin, are subject to precise and regular control to verify their quality and health safety, he affirmed that only healthy dates that comply with the standards in force are allowed to be imported.

The control of imported dates by the external services of ONSSA is carried out continuously at the crossing points, where the documents are checked to verify the content and form of the documents attached to the imported dates, the minister had explained.