Morocco Moves to Tighten Pesticide Regulations Following Audit Report

Parliament will soon legislate on the use of pesticides in the Kingdom. This is the consequence of the damning report of the Court of Auditors on pesticides. Indeed, the Court of Auditors had produced data concerning the disorder that characterizes the use of agricultural pesticides and the lack of control.

Following this report, which challenges the leaders, the House of Representatives has decided to vote on a new law to better regulate the use of agricultural pesticides. One of the axes of this law will be to curb the illicit sale of agricultural pesticides and inputs containing sulfurous and toxic chemical elements. In its report, the Court of Auditors had revealed that the wormwood consumed in the country was non-compliant with health standards. The same goes for 59% of the mint, 78% of the parsley and 36% of the coriander on the Moroccan market.

The draft law that will be under study will replace law 42.95 and will aim to strengthen the capacities of the competent authorities in terms of risk assessment and control of plant protection products, with a view to limiting the use of the most dangerous products, reports Al Massae.

In addition, the new law will lay down principles to encourage the use of low-risk products and to promote the replacement of chemical products by alternative methods.

The Executive will seize the opportunity of this law to organize and control the marketing of these products. The new legal provisions will determine the qualified persons to carry out these activities. These persons must hold an authorization issued for this purpose by the competent authorities, indicates the daily which reports the creation of a National Commission for Plant Protection Products.

This new commission, composed of members of the administration and the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA), will be responsible for giving an advisory opinion on the approval of active substances, plant protection products and synergists.