Moroccan farmers push back against European accusations amid trade dispute

Amid growing tensions between Moroccan agricultural exporters and European farmers, particularly in France and Spain, Moroccan agricultural authorities have strongly refuted allegations regarding the presence of harmful pesticides in Moroccan watermelons.

Rashid Benali, President of the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER), emphasized that while legal action remains an option, the organization will not tolerate attempts to damage the reputation of Moroccan produce.

The controversy comes just days before the International Agricultural Show in Paris (Feb. 22 – March 2), where the French rural farmers’ union, Coordination Rurale, is expected to campaign against Moroccan tomato imports and call for the termination of the EU-Morocco agricultural agreement.

In Spain, the Coordination of Farmers’ and Livestock Breeders’ Organizations (COAG) recently filed a complaint against Morocco, claiming that the North African country exceeded its annual tariff-free tomato quota by approximately 230,000 tons, allegedly causing Spain losses of €14 million per year.

Meanwhile, European media outlets, including EADTV, have reported claims that Moroccan watermelons contain banned pesticides, citing an EU classification of the risk as “potentially serious” as of April 5, 2024. Benali firmly denied these claims, stating that Moroccan agricultural exports are routinely inspected by European customs authorities, and no issues have been found.

“Our agricultural products undergo thorough testing before entering European markets. While occasional alerts may arise, as is the case with any exporting country, the notion that our produce is contaminated is completely false,” Benali told Hespress AR.

He further argued that such accusations are being used as a tactic to undermine Moroccan farmers in international trade.

In response to the potential protests at the Paris Agricultural Show, Benali recalled COMADER’s previous legal action against Spanish farmers who vandalized Moroccan tomato shipments. That lawsuit led to Spanish authorities intervening to protect Moroccan exports.

“If necessary, we will take similar legal steps against those seeking to harm Moroccan agriculture,” he affirmed.

Despite the growing trade tensions, COMADER remains cautious about escalating the situation into immediate legal disputes. Instead, the organization is preparing to engage in discussions with French agricultural unions during the upcoming trade fair.

“Litigation is always an option, but given Morocco’s strong trade partnerships with France and Spain, we prefer diplomatic dialogue for now,” Benali concluded.