Regional committees begin field inspections across Moroccan markets amid skyrocketing prices

Mixed regional committees have begun monitoring public markets throughout the national territory, in light of high prices for food goods ahead of Ramadan, especially vegetables and red meat.

In implementation of ministerial instructions aimed at tracking market supplies and controlling prices, especially regarding the wholesale sector, the Government is accelerating efforts to counter Moroccans deteriorating purchasing power.

Thursday, the Ministry of the Interior in Rabat hosted a meeting of the Ministers of Interior, Economy and Finance, Agriculture and Fishing, Rural Development, Water, and Industry, trade, energy transition to examine solutions to this soar in costs.

The ministerial meeting discussed ways to implement the various necessary measures that would meet the requirements of the national market, and to provide sufficient and regular stocks of all basic materials, to ensure the consumers’ safety, preserve their purchasing power, and combat various illicit and predatory practices.

The appointment concluded with the implementation of a high-level joint ministerial committee for vigilance and tracking of market supply and prices, which will work until the end of the month of Ramadan, to track the state of supplying markets and prices of basic goods.

The committee will also frame and strengthen the interventions of the departments in charge of monitoring and consumer protection, and coordination mechanisms between various departments and concerned bodies.

The meeting also decided to take measures to ensure the priority of supplying the market with sufficient agricultural products, before directing towards export routes, which will positively affect price stability.

This measure will reinforce other proactive measures taken by the concerned government sectors that will contribute to stabilizing food prices in the coming days and weeks, such as continuing to subsidize transport prices, canceling the value-added tax, and halting customs duties on importing cows destined for slaughter.

Among the outcomes of the ministerial meeting was stressing the need to strengthen the continuous field monitoring process, as it is the most effective way to win the bet on supporting the purchasing power of citizens.