Morocco Limits Subsidized Face Mask Sales to Grocery Stores Amid COVID-19 Mandate

The decision surprised Moroccans, as wearing a mask has become mandatory since April 6. On the same day, a joint press release from the Ministries of Health, Interior, Economy and Industry also announced a fixed price of 80 cents per mask. "Several textile factories will produce nearly 2.5 million masks per day," declared Saâd-Eddine El Othmani, the head of the Executive, during the Council of Government. These masks would be available in pharmacies, local businesses, as well as large retailers in the kingdom. But since then, the distribution strategy has changed according to some industry players contacted by Telquel.

They explain that on April 10, they received a press release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, addressed to large and medium-sized retailers (GMS), asking them to no longer market the 80-cent masks. "The small business must be favored over the large distribution to avoid the consumer having to move around and increase the risk of contagion," they could read in the press release.

However, explains Chrystele Ronceray, deputy general manager of Carrefour Label’vie, "the GMS have decided to maintain the marketing of reusable anti-droplet individual masks, sold at a price of 13.95 dirhams and composed of 97% cotton and 3% elastane."

According to data available to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, between April 7 and 12, 13 million masks were delivered to grocery stores.