The European Union opens its market to Moroccan poultry amid Spanish objections
In an unprecedented move, the European Union approved a legislative amendment allowing the marketing of Moroccan chicken and turkey meat within its member states. The decision sparked a wave of anger in Spain, which considered it a “betrayal,” especially as the Spanish poultry sector is currently suffering from a severe crisis.

Despite the political protests in Madrid, observers believe this development reflects Morocco’s growing presence in the European market as a reliable source of food products. This follows a positive health assessment from EU authorities, which confirmed Moroccan meat complies with approved veterinary standards.

Debate over veterinary safety and Moroccan updates
The Coordination of Farmers and Livestock Breeders Organizations in Spain criticized Morocco, accusing it of using banned substances and lacking proper oversight. Moroccan authorities responded by saying these accusations do not reflect the current reality, pointing to comprehensive reforms in its veterinary system, including feed monitoring, production traceability, and strengthening analytical laboratories.
Analysts argue that Spain’s crisis is deeper than foreign competition. The sector has been hit by soaring energy and feed costs, sharply reducing profit margins while consumer prices remain high. They believe the protests conceal longstanding structural issues within the industry.

An economic opportunity for Morocco and new challenges
Economically, the EU decision is seen as an important gain for Morocco, whose poultry sector has been experiencing noticeable growth and expanding exports to African and Gulf markets. Experts say the EU’s recognition of Moroccan production quality will boost its global competitiveness.
However, entering the European market requires strict adherence to safety and traceability standards. This will push Morocco to upgrade its infrastructure, improve distribution chains, and face strong agricultural lobby competition within Europe.

A shift in the Mediterranean agricultural balance
This development reflects a reshaping of the agricultural landscape in the Mediterranean region, with Morocco making tangible progress in penetrating European markets while Spain finds itself needing to review its production model to keep pace with rising regional competition.

Source: avinews.com