The Spanish region of Andalusia has urged the European Union to take punitive measures against Morocco for what it alleges has been the selling of tomato imports to Europe at below the minimum price of entry.
At a press conference, Andalusia’s agriculture minister, Martín Soler, claimed that official figures had shown that Moroccan tomatoes were being imported into the EU through an unnamed French port “at a lower price than the established minimum”.
Mr Soler claimed the imports, which he said had been imported for below the set entry price of €0.46 per kilo, had been allowed to reach European markets as a result of a “lack of control” by customs authorities.
Andalusia’s regional government has now contacted the European authorities to request that punitive measures be taken against Morocco for the actions, he said.
Mr Soler said EU agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boel had been informed of the situation and added that the European Group of Tomato Producers had written to the commissioner asking for a full investigation of the how the imports had been permitted.
