chargement...
The Moroccan Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters (Apefel) has denounced what it calls a «disinformation campaign» by certain European media outlets targeting Moroccan tomatoes. The association maintains that the allegations questioning the sanitary compliance of these products «have no scientific basis».
Since 2023, Morocco has established itself as the leading non-European supplier of tomatoes to the European Union, thanks to the quality of its production and the rigor of its controls. However, Apefel claims that this success has been met with «repeated attempts at economic denigration».
Official figures appear to support this position: out of 5,502 notifications related to plant products imported into the EU between 2020 and 2025, only 49 concerned Morocco, less than 1%. «These data confirm the reliability of the Moroccan control system, managed by ONSSA, known for its high standards and transparency», the association stressed.
The controversy resurfaced after a recent UFC-Que Choisir report in France alleged the presence of «several residues» in Moroccan tomatoes. Apefel reminds that the detection of trace residues does not imply exceeding authorized thresholds. «These low doses, comparable to those observed in European products, pose no risk to consumer health», the organization clarified.
For Moroccan producers, the health argument is being «instrumentalized for protectionist purposes», aimed at restricting the Kingdom’s access to the European market.
Apefel called for a “debate based on transparency and cooperation” and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining production that meets international standards and respects the principles of fair competition.
