Fighting the middlemen… Three decisions for the direct marketing of vegetables and fruits in 27 cities

A. Latif Baraka: Heba Press

Coinciding with the continued rise in food prices, especially vegetables and fruits, after many controversies and the accompanying protests from consumers and even farmers in the face of an uncontrolled rise in prices in Moroccan markets, and after meetings of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade and Industry with those concerned in a discussion that has continued in recent years and resulted in the issuance of three decisions on how to accurately and transparently monitor agricultural and marketing activities, in order to confront the “intermediaries” in the field.

In this context, three important joint decisions were recently published in the Official Journal of the Kingdom of Morocco, published on August 29, based on the requirements of draft decree No. 2.23.920 relating to the application of law No. 37.21 relating to the marketing of agricultural products. Three important joint decisions aim to regulate the marketing process of fruits and vegetables produced within the framework of agricultural aggregation.

The first decision No. 2478.23, issued on 18 Muharram 1446 (July 24, 2024), concerns the determination of the list of cities in which fruits and vegetables produced within the framework of agricultural aggregation can be marketed directly, without the obligation of transit. wholesale markets. This decision concerns 27 cities.

It includes Settat, Berrechid, Khouribga, Rabat, Salé, Khemisset, Temara, Kenitra, Sid Kacem, Ouezzane, El Jadida, Azemmour, Errachidia, Khenifra, Marrakech, Kelaat des Sraghna, Safi, Essaouira, Beni Mellal, Nador, Oujda, Al . Hoceima, and Taza, Tétouan, Larache, Ksar el-Kébir, Meknes, Fez.

While the second Resolution No. 2479.23 regulates the procedure for requesting authorization for direct marketing of fruits and vegetables, which requires that the application be accompanied by a file containing a set of documents necessary for the identification of the complex, whether natural or legal persons, in addition to the tax booklet signed by the applicant.

The third resolution No. 2480.23 specifies the procedures for obtaining authorizations related to the marketing of fruits and vegetables produced within the framework of agricultural aggregation. This decision requires the submission of authorizations every three months to the competent services of the groups concerned, in order to ensure transparency and close monitoring of agricultural and marketing activities.

The Government Council had approved draft decree No. 2.23.920 implementing law No. 37.21 promulgating special measures related to the direct marketing of fruits and vegetables produced within the framework of agricultural aggregation without the obligation to go through wholesale markets.

The decree aims to determine the terms of granting, renewing and withdrawing the authorization provided for in Article 1, which is given to the group concerned for the direct marketing of fruits and vegetables produced within the framework of the agricultural group, without the obligation to go through wholesale markets.

The draft decree provides for the creation of a technical commission within the government authority responsible for agriculture, responsible for expressing an opinion on applications for granting and renewing the aforementioned authorization, as well as its withdrawal. This commission is composed of representatives of the agricultural sector, the Ministry of the Interior, the sector responsible for trade, the National Office for Food Safety and the Agricultural Development Agency.

The draft decree also provides for the creation of a regional committee reporting to the regional director of the competent regional agricultural directorate, within whose jurisdiction the assessment unit around which the agricultural aggregation project concerned by the approval is constituted is located.

This commission, which is composed of representatives of the decentralized services of the ministerial sectors and representatives of the aforementioned public establishments, is responsible for ensuring compliance with the conditions on the basis of which the authorization was granted and compliance with the provisions of the corresponding book of compensation. It determines by decision of the government authorities responsible for agriculture, the interior and trade the procedures for appointing the members of this committee and the procedures for conducting its work.

The draft of the aforementioned decree refers to the joint decisions of the government authorities in charge of agriculture, the interior and trade in order to determine the license application form and the documents that must be attached to it.

Specifying the list of cities referred to in Article 1 of Law No. 37.21 above, in which aggregators may be approved to directly sell fruits and vegetables produced within the framework of agricultural aggregation, without the obligation to go through wholesale markets, and how to obtain permits related to fruits and vegetables marketed under the aforementioned license framework.

The joint decisions also indicate the definition of the tolerance booklet model that the collectors concerned must respect.

According to the draft decree, the application must be accompanied by a file including the documents listed by joint decision of the government authorities responsible for agriculture, the interior and trade, as well as the allowance booklet indicated for this purpose. The aforementioned Regional Directorate of Agriculture shall forward the application and the file attached to it to the government authority responsible for agriculture within a maximum of five working days.

In the same context, a technical committee is created within the government authority in charge of agriculture, responsible for expressing an opinion on the application for authorization. The members of the committee differ from one sector to another, as well as the chairman of the technical committee. may invite any person to attend the committee meetings with an advisory vote, in consideration of their knowledge and skills.

The technical document states that the government authority responsible for agriculture may grant the licensee a period of at least fifteen days to correct the inspected defect, and he will be informed of this within a period not exceeding five days.

The authorities concerned may also withdraw the authorisation and notify them of this reasoned withdrawal within a period not exceeding five days, which is calculated from the date of receipt of the opinion of the aforementioned technical commission.

The document confirms that if it appears, upon expiry of the period provided for correcting the aforementioned breach, that the licensee has not corrected the aforementioned breach, the license will be withdrawn. The withdrawal will be notified to him with reasons, within a period not exceeding five days. The ministerial sectors and public institutions concerned will also be informed of each approval withdrawn.

These new decisions would control the transparency of sales outside the weekly markets, and would besiege the “intermediaries”, this circle which has benefited from chance in the organization of the trade of vegetables and fruits in Morocco in recent years.