Moroccan poultry producers raise worries over U.S. poultry imports

After the U.S. announced last Tuesday that Morocco will start importing American poultry, Moroccan professionals in the poultry farming sector criticized the decision, stressing that it would create «unfair competition».

The Moroccan Interprofessional Federation of the Poultry Sector (FISA) issued a statement, relayed Sunday by Arabic-language online newspaper Hespress, calling for the holding for an urgent meeting.

Professionals from the Moroccan poultry sector are planning to send a letter to the bodies taking care of the new measure, to inform them of the consequences of such imports. FISA recalls that the Moroccan market is self-sufficient and that its products are of good quality.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Meat and Poultry Producers (ANPVV) rejected the decision. The body believes that importing American poultry products «will affect the sector, which has been facing major difficulties for two years».

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday, 7th of August, that Morocco expects an initial annual shipment estimated at about $10 million after it lifted the ban on U.S. poultry, implemented due to safety concerns.