Morocco Seizes 2 Million Medical Masks Intended for Export, Redirects to Local Market

The stock of two million medical masks, intercepted by the customs services, belongs to several exporting companies that wanted to sell them outside Moroccan territory. The sale on the local market was decided, two days ago, in accordance with strict procedures. The competent authorities will coordinate the local sale of the masks, in connection with the instructions of the Ministers of Health and the Interior.

The public and private structures interested in the masks are called upon to approach the competent authorities, to express their needs. The latter will have to specify, in writing, to the customs services, the quantity of masks and the degree of urgency of the order. The structures concerned are among others, shopping centers, companies in charge of urban waste collection, local authorities and delegations of the Ministry of Health. These various structures have already expressed urgent needs for medical masks in order to protect their staff.

Deliveries to applicants will be made from the Nouaceur airport, after validation of the orders. Other seizures of large quantities of masks have also been made by customs, about a month and a half ago, to the great incomprehension of exporters who believe they are operating legally.

The Ministry of the Interior, by decree, has decided to ban the export of these products due to the health emergency. This is why exporters have been asked to direct their products to the local market.