Morocco Ramps Up Food Safety Inspections Ahead of Ramadan

The Office, as indicated to the MAP, its director of food product control, Abdelghani Azzi, is more rigorous in the control of imported food products at the level of border inspection posts where only products complying with the regulatory requirements in force in the kingdom, in particular dairy products, meats, fishery products, dates, cheeses, juices and honey..., all major consumer products during the holy month.

Agri-food establishments authorized/approved (more than 8,600) are also targeted, where the office is very vigilant about compliance with the required requirements in terms of approval/authorization, in particular by checking the 5 M (Environment, Material, Means, Method, Manpower), as well as, adds Azzi, the traceability and self-control put in place by the operators to verify the quality of the products offered to consumers.

Rigorous in their work, the inspectors go so far as to take samples of prepared food products and raw materials for analysis. In the event of non-compliance duly noted and attested by a report, the sanctions are immediate and can range from suspension to withdrawal of approval/authorization. Any dispute over an offense is punished by the seizure and then the destruction of the products and reports are drawn up against the offenders. Mixed local commissions, chaired by the provincial authorities, on inspection missions in sales outlets and catering establishments are active on the ground and authorized to seize non-compliant or questionable quality products.

In addition to repression, the commissions are also on a mission to raise awareness among operators to respect the sanitary requirements for better protection of the consumer. Consumers are advised to avoid any product whose labeling is not in Arabic and exposed for sale in unsuitable conditions (non-compliance with the cold chain, proximity to sources of pollution and contamination...) as well as products not bearing the ONSSA approval/authorization number or imported. Consumers are also warned against pre-packaged products prepared in unapproved/unauthorized establishments or sales outlets that do not meet the required sanitary requirements.

For the record, ONSSA is responsible for implementing the government policy on the sanitary safety of plants, animals and food products, from raw materials to the final consumer, including feed intended for animal feed.