PROEXPORT regrets the narrow vote in the European Parliament that will allow the misleading labeling of fruits and vegetables from Western Sahara, and announces that the legal battle in Brussels continues

The measure, which passed by a single vote, has provoked hard criticism towards the PSOE MEPs who voted against the motion of rejection.

The amendment to the Delegated Regulation on marketing standards for fruit and vegetables, promoted by the European Commission, will authorize the use of Moroccan regional designations. “Dajla Oued Ed-Dahab” y “El Aaiún-Sakia El Hamra” on the labeling of products from Western Sahara. This practice replaces the mandatory mention of "Western Sahara" as a country of origin, a requirement explicitly established in the CJEU judgment (case C-399/22) which considers this territory as a different customs territory.

The rejection of this proposal, which sought to overturn the Commission's reform, It failed by a single vote. (359 in favor when 360 were required, with 188 against and 76 abstentions). For PROEXPORT, this sets a serious precedent by establishing an "unprecedented exception in the field of import and export trade" and modifying a Community rule in favor of a third country, opening the door to future lawsuits.

In addition to labeling, the new regulations entail a transfer of powers unjustified, since it grants Moroccan authorities the power to issue certificates of conformity for these products with EU standards without community oversight.

Criticism of the PSOE vote: "They have sided with Morocco"

PROEXPORT has pointed directly to the Spanish socialist MEPs who voted against the motion seeking to halt the measure, claiming their support would have easily secured victory. The organization strongly criticizes this stance: “This first vote in the European Parliament was lost by a single vote. It could have been easily won with the support of our Socialist MEPs, but They have sided with Morocco. "

The employers' association, along with FEPEX, insists that Western Sahara is not part of Morocco and its products should not enjoy tariff preferences in the EU.

Economic Consequences and Unfair Competition

The consequences of this approval are considered very serious for both consumers and producers. On the one hand, it harms consumers by allowing labeling that deliberately conceals the country of origin. On the other hand, Moroccan competition, which produces with lower social and environmental standards The European ones will be reinforced.

FEPEX has repeatedly denounced the serious damage that Moroccan competition poses for the Spanish sector, especially in tomatoes. In the last ten years, tomato production in Spain has been reduced by 31 %and exports to the EU have descended a 25 % (falling from 786.599 to 591.098 tons). In contrast, EU tomato imports from Morocco have grown a 42 %.

El future impact The situation worsens, as the area of greenhouses in Western Sahara is expected to increase. will fire from 1.200 to 5.000 hectares, and these productions will benefit from tariff advantages if the modification of the EU-Morocco Association Agreement, scheduled for last October, is finally ratified.

Despite the setback in the European Chamber, PROEXPORT and FEPEX They trust that, given the serious consequences For Spanish and EU producers, the European Parliament reject the modification of the Partnership Agreement, of which this measure is a part.