ONSSA firmly denies this and confirms that exports are continuing as normal.

On September 10, the Dutch health authorities issued an alert via the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), under reference number 2025.6942. The subject of the alert was the presence of metals in a batch of cherry tomatoes exported from Morocco. The batch in question was immediately removed from the market, in accordance with the standard procedure applied in cases of non-compliance.

ONSSA Denies Suspension of Cherry Tomato Exports to the EU

In the days that followed, several media outlets reported that the European Union had suspended imports of Moroccan tomatoes, sparking widespread concern. But this information has been categorically denied by a source within the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), quoted by the specialized platform FreshPlaza: “It is true that a batch of cherry tomatoes from Morocco was intercepted in the Netherlands. The local authorities suspended this specific lot, which is a normal procedure. However, speaking of a general suspension of Moroccan tomato imports in the EU is completely false.”

ONSSA also pointed out that RASFF alerts involving Moroccan products remain extremely rare. In 2025, out of 478 alerts concerning fresh produce in the European Union, only 9 involved Moroccan products — barely 1.8% of the total. “This figure clearly reflects the compliance of Moroccan products with international health standards,” the same source emphasized.

Producers Mobilized to Counter Misinterpretations

On the producers’ side, there has also been mobilization to counter these erroneous claims. A representative of Moroccan tomato exporters explained that the Moroccan season is currently in a low-production period, which naturally reduces shipment volumes: “That does not prevent shipments from continuing. Just yesterday, a batch of cherry tomatoes was successfully delivered to the European market,” he confirmed to FreshPlaza.

An Isolated Case, Not a Structural Trend

This episode highlights the importance of distinguishing isolated cases from structural trends. The incident of September 10 does not call into question the overall quality of Moroccan exports or their access to European markets. ONSSA concludes by urging caution regarding hasty media interpretations and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring strict compliance with food safety standards, both for domestic consumption and for exports.

Source : Le Matin