Morocco Moves to Tighten Tobacco Regulations Amid Health Concerns

Thus, referring to the tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide content of cigarettes, Moroccans smoke more harmful cigarettes than those consumed in the European Union.

Convinced of the credibility of the Public Eye study, the Moroccan government has recently approved a draft law (No. 66.20) amending and supplementing Law No. 46.02 relating to the regime of raw and manufactured tobaccos. First, it will supplement Article 10 by involving heated tobacco. The text will then require manufacturers to indicate on each package of manufactured tobacco the proportion of carbon monoxide, in addition to the tar and nicotine rates.

From the same study, it appears that Morocco has had a law limiting the tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide content since 2012. However, the implementing decree has never been taken and no laboratory verifies these values. Customs only ensure the minimum fiscal compliance of the containers. Like several countries, Morocco does not have a systematic analysis laboratory for imported cigarettes.