Brussels 02/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - A crisis rising from the new EU market access measures on fruit and vegetables, perceived by Moroccans as restrictive, and the ban, for health reasons, on imports of cherry tomatoes from Morocco into Europe is causing a lot of concern amongst Moroccan producers.
According to the Moroccan newspaper, L'Économiste, the country's tomato exporters, who are getting down to sowing, are impatiently awaiting the outcome of the low-key negotiations between Brussels and Rabat, ready to move into action. One producer said that producers had to be ready “if we want to be ready next October. We need to continue to believe keep on working, even though exporters are worried”.
The media have also highlighted data provided by the department of agriculture according to which 92.5% of the country's tomato exports to the EU have already been reached and that, “to 18 May, Moroccan tomato exports to the EU had reached the figure of 248,803 tonnes, at an average price of € 48.30 (542 Dhs) the quintal”. (FB)