EU farmers push for fresh limits on Moroccan tomatoes

MOROCCO – European tomato producers have stepped up pressure against Moroccan exports, calling for tighter limits under the EU Morocco agriculture agreement.

Growers from France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain met in Torres earlier this month and urged EU officials to review the current trade terms. According to agri news outlet Fhalmeria, producers claim Moroccan tomatoes create “unfair competition” and leave EU farmers “increasingly less competitive.”

They argue that changes to the agreement have harmed the Spanish sector and reduced its role as a leading tomato supplier in the EU market.

In October 2025, Morocco and the EU signed an amendment to their farm deal. The update included technical changes meant to ease access for Moroccan produce and improve labeling rules. It also addressed how products from Morocco’s southern provinces in Western Sahara should appear on EU shelves.

Fhalmeria reported that producers fear labeling from the Saharan province “will be labeled in a way that is confusing for the consumer.” They claim this approach could bypass EU rules that require clear country of origin details.

Producers also warned that the change will “allow Saharan production to benefit from the trade advantages granted to Moroccan production,” pointing to what they describe as a projected 1000 percent rise in output from those areas.

Political undercurrents

Some observers see the latest complaints as political rather than economic. Similar claims have appeared in past disputes over Moroccan farm exports.

In October last year, a campaign in Europe alleged that Moroccan tomatoes contained high pesticide residues. Authorities later rejected those claims after checks failed to confirm the accusations. The claims surfaced as some European producers called for a boycott of Moroccan goods.

Tensions also turned physical in 2024. Protesters in Spain vandalized trucks carrying Moroccan tomatoes and destroyed the produce. In some cases, groups set trucks on fire to block distribution.

Despite the disputes, Morocco’s tomato output has grown steadily. Production rose from 1.23 billion kilograms in 2014 to 1.44 billion kilograms in 2023, according to official data.

As talks continue, both sides now face pressure to defend their farmers while keeping trade ties stable.

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