HIBAPRESS – Shafiq Anouri
The Association of Importers of Perishable Products at the Port of Algeciras (AIMPA) has warned of the current situation at the Port of Algeciras, one of the most important Mediterranean ports, through which goods from Morocco to Europe pass.
The association pointed out in a statement, the details of which were reported by the Spanish website "Atalayar," that there is an "operational bottleneck that threatens a crucial movement of live and fresh goods coming from Morocco and heading to Europe," especially in the sectors of fresh fish, fruits, and vegetables. According to the statement, Moroccan exporters reported delays ranging from 24 to 72 hours in the passage of goods through customs, as a result of the implementation of the new "H1" system, which is the mandatory electronic system in the European Union for customs declarations, which came into effect on October 14, replacing the previous Single Administrative Document." The statement explained that the system aims to "update customs procedures through a unified data structure, increase the efficiency of operations, and enhance their tracking and security," adding that exporters confirmed that "these delays have led to the freezing of fresh fish shipments for hours at the port, which affected the quality of the product and its rejection by some European distributors." The statement added that "the delays are exacerbated due to EUR1 certificate tests, which prove the preferential origin of goods and grant customs privileges under trade agreements between Morocco and the European Union," adding that customs procedures clarify that "there are orange and red routes: orange is limited to the review of documents, while red includes inspection of documents and goods in reality." The association also warned that "the continuation of the situation may lead to an imminent halt of shipments, affecting the fishing sector and the reputation of the Port of Algeciras as a center for international trade," noting that they are preparing an official complaint to the European Union to demand an urgent solution to the crisis of the bottleneck in the movement of perishable goods, which is vital to the local and regional economy. For its part, the port authorities in Algeciras, according to what was stated on the "Atalayar" website, confirmed that the matter falls within the responsibility of customs, and that they are working closely to ensure the problem is solved as soon as possible.
