Morocco slightly tightens access for Spanish garlic, whose producers urge Europe to follow suit
Morocco is subjecting fresh garlic imports to a licensing system. Spanish producers fear this could hurt their sales. Yet their association acknowledges the kingdom’s right to protect its market and is asking the European Union to follow its example.
The National Association of Spanish Garlic Producers and Traders (ANPCA) says it discovered a Moroccan circular introducing these licenses without the sector having been informed beforehand, reports AgroCLM. The measure applies to imported fresh garlic, regardless of its origin.
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For Spanish companies, the Moroccan market is important in particular because consumers are interested in their purple garlic. The ANPCA believes the new formality could make sales in Morocco more difficult.
But the association understands the reasoning behind the decision: a country can control imports to defend its producers. Its criticism is aimed at Brussels, which it considers less responsive to the difficulties facing the European sector.
Spanish producers appeal to the European Union
The ANPCA notes that since 2001, the European Union has applied a customs duty of 1 200 euros per tonne to garlic imported outside the quota. Unchanged for twenty-five years, this amount has, in its view, lost some of its protective effect.
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The sector is therefore calling for more effective European measures against competition from imports. This demand echoes calls from other European producers to protect their crops, particularly in the tomato sector.
