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Rabat – Morocco has pulled over 300 pesticides from its markets after 42 active ingredients were banned over concerns for plant health.
Moroccan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mohamed Sadiki, made the announcement in response to a question from MPs, stressing that the monitoring of pesticide use “gets a great deal of attention from the National Office for Food Safety.”
The ingredients were banned following scientific recommendations from a ministerial program and changing international standards.
“In line with laws regulating agricultural pesticides and their trade, these products are obligated to go through a very precise approval process before being imported and sold nationally,” Sadiki said.
The process includes inspections by the National Council of Pesticides, which includes representatives and experts from the ministries responsible for health, environment, trade, and other sectors.
In addition to approving the pesticides, Sadiki said the council monitors the manufacturers and distributors, to ensure high standards in the storing, labeling, and transportation of the materials.
Despite these efforts, Morocco’s agriculture sector has known use of toxic and banned chemicals in recent years.
In 2021, German authorities decided to pull Moroccan peppers and beans from their markets after finding high concentrations of pesticide residue. The concentration of pesticides in the peppers exceeded the EU’s maximum limit by more than 1,200%.
Read also: Germany Pulls Moroccan Peppers Due to Toxic Pesticide Use
Additionally, an investigation by Unearthed and Public Eye showed that Morocco is one of the top importers of toxic pesticides banned by the EU, which prohibited them for risks of reproductive failure and cancer in humans.
Morocco has been working since 2019 to tighten its pesticide regulations, with over 1,200 sellers across the country registering under the ministry’s program which lays out rules for sale and distribution.
With agriculture being one of Morocco’s top exports, it is vital to keep produce healthy and in line with international safety standards.
