A leading Spanish fresh produce association has described the European Union’s systems of control for tomato imports as “a joke”, claiming that Moroccan exporters are continuing to sell products at below the minimum price of market entry.
The Coordinator of Spanish Agricultural Organisations (COAG) has accused Morocco of breaching import conditions on seven occasions between mid-March and early April, in spite of assurances from Spain’s ministry of agriculture.
Andrés Góngora, general secretary of Coag Almeria told reporters this week that the shipments had taken place despite an assurance from Spain’s minister of agriculture, Elena Espinosa, in March that measures had been taken to tighten import controls.
Citing data obtained from the European Commission, Mr Góngora claimed that the tomato imports were continuing to take place at below the minimum price of entry – €0.46 per kilo – as established by bilateral treaty agreed between the EU and Morocco.
“The EU authorities and member states like Spain, have thousands of vegetable producers that are being affected by the illegal entry of Moroccan products and they are putting in jeopardy the future of thousands of families,” Mr Góngora told El Almería.
“We also run the risk that other non-EU countries with preferential agreements in force follow the example of Morocco, which could mean the end of vegetable production in Almeria,” he claimed.
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