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Fez – Morocco’s food supplement industry is pushing back against a proposed legal amendment that would grant pharmacies exclusive rights over the sale of food supplements deemed to have a “therapeutic effect,” arguing that the measure would create an unnecessary monopoly and disrupt a sector that supports thousands of businesses and jobs.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Coalition of Food Supplement Sector Companies urged the government, political parties and members of Parliament to withdraw the proposed amendment to Article 30 of Law No. 17-04.
The amendment, introduced in Parliament in March and approved by the House of Representatives earlier this month, is now awaiting consideration by the House of Councillors.
The coalition, which says it is supported by more than 10 professional associations and over 150 companies, including 10 manufacturing laboratories, argues that the proposal would significantly limit consumer choice and increase costs by restricting the sale of certain food supplements to pharmacies alone.
According to the group, the amendment would directly affect more than 5,000 companies operating across the food supplement value chain, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, e-commerce businesses, parapharmacies and specialised retailers.
The coalition estimates that around 40,000 direct jobs and 80,000 indirect jobs depend on the sector.
The coalition also criticized what it described as a lack of consultation during the drafting of the proposal. It said key stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, online retailers and specialised stores, were not adequately involved in discussions before the amendment was introduced.
At the centerof the debate is the classification of food supplements.
The coalition maintains that food supplements are not medicines and should continue to be regulated under Morocco’s food safety framework, particularly Law No. 28-07.
It stressed that the products already fall under the supervision of the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), which oversees compliance and consumer protection.
The group further argued that no scientific evidence or public health data has been presented to justify granting exclusive distribution rights to pharmacies.
It warned that concerns related to public health should not be used to restrict lawful competition or exclude other regulated sales channels.
Badr Bouarich, spokesperson for the coalition and general manager of a laboratory specialising in food supplement manufacturing, said the sector supports stronger regulation but opposes what it sees as market monopolisation.
“Food supplements must be properly regulated, but regulation should not be confused with monopolisation,” Bouarich said.
“The current proposal will transfer an entire market to a single distribution channel, without demonstrating that such a measure is necessary, proportionate or beneficial to consumers.”
The coalition noted that in many international markets, food supplements are sold through multiple regulated channels, including pharmacies, parapharmacies, supermarkets, specialized stores and online platforms.
It argued that Morocco should follow a similar approach rather than limiting distribution to a single channel.
Instead of introducing exclusivity, the coalition called for stronger enforcement of existing regulations, improved product traceability and tougher action against counterfeit and smuggled products.
It also advocated for greater consumer education on product use, dosage and labeling.
As lawmakers prepare to examine the proposal in the second chamber of Parliament, the debate is likely to intensify between supporters of stricter pharmacy oversight and industry players who fear the economic consequences of restricting access to the market.
For the coalition, the priority should be reinforcing consumer protection while preserving competition, investment and employment in a sector it describes as both lawful and economically significant.
