Representatives of Spanish regional fresh produce associations are set to deliver a formal demand to the European Authorities, calling for action over what they describe as 'fraudulent' tomato imports to the EU from Morocco.
National export federation Fepex, Andalusian association Coexphal, Murcian organisation Proexport, Valencian association Fexphal and Fedex Aceto from the Canary Islands will formally complain to the European Ombudsman over what they view as the European Commission’s inaction over the imports.
The groups, who will meet tomorrow in Almería before presenting their demand to the Ombudsman, claim that the European Commission has failed to act over the alleged non-payment of import taxes by Moroccan tomato exporters to the EU.
In a statement, Fepex said the move was being made due to the lack of a concrete response from the European Commission to the problem and the 'serious damage' being done to Spanish and European tomato producers.
The organisation said that it hoped it was within the powers of the Ombudsman to ensure that the European Commission adopted 'all necessary measures' to ensure that Moroccan exporters complied with EU laws.
