The Moroccan government fast-tracked new legislation to protect the nation’s cultural heritage, approving Draft Law No. 33.22 on heritage preservation during a Thursday cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. The law aims to modernize the legal framework for the protection, enhancement, and transmission of Morocco’s cultural and natural heritage.
Presented by Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the new law strengthens provisions from Law No. 22.80, which focuses on preserving historical buildings, landscapes, and cultural treasures. The draft law also aligns Morocco’s national heritage laws with international agreements and practices, including those set by UNESCO.
The bill introduces updated definitions for various types of cultural, natural, and geological heritage, and calls for the creation of a National Heritage Inventory. The law also mandates the development of a heritage management planthat would coordinate efforts across government and private sectors, ensuring proper management and funding for heritage preservation.
In a separate decision, the cabinet approved Decrees No. 2.24.1050 and 2.24.962, suspending import taxes on cattle and sheep to ensure adequate meat supply in Morocco’s markets. Minister of Agriculture Ahmed Bawari, speaking on behalf of Budget Minister Fouzi Lekjaa, explained that the government had previously suspended customs duties and VAT on livestock imports last year. The new measures aim to increase import quotas to meet rising national demand for red meat.
Finally, the cabinet reviewed two international agreements, presented by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The agreements included a Military and Technical Cooperation Agreement between Morocco and Romania, signed in February 2024, as well as Morocco’s approval of the Digital Cooperation Organization’s Charter, which Morocco signed in 2022. Both agreements are part of Morocco’s ongoing efforts to strengthen international partnerships and digital cooperation.
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