Morocco dairy market: Belarusian producers await ONSSA approval

Belarus is moving closer to gaining access to the Moroccan dairy market, with an inspection mission by Morocco’s National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) expected to assess a number of Belarusian dairy facilities. The evaluation could become the decisive step in determining whether producers from the Eastern European country can begin supplying the Moroccan market under the country’s sanitary and veterinary requirements.

For Minsk, the initiative represents more than a new commercial opportunity. It is part of a broader strategy to expand dairy exports beyond its traditional markets and strengthen trade ties with countries where demand for imported dairy products remains significant.

ONSSA audit could determine market access

The planned inspection will examine whether Belarusian establishments comply with Moroccan health and veterinary standards. According to Belarusian authorities, ONSSA inspectors are expected to assess facilities under normal operating conditions rather than relying solely on documentation submitted by exporters.

The review is expected to cover several stages of production, including the origin and safety of raw materials, agricultural practices, laboratory testing, finished dairy products and mandatory certification procedures.

Belarusian Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Ivan Smilgin, who oversees veterinary and food supervision, has emphasized Minsk’s willingness to provide inspectors with broad access to the production chain.

A positive assessment would allow the two sides to conclude the technical discussions required before Belarusian dairy companies can officially export to Morocco.

Morocco already relies on imported dairy inputs

The potential arrival of Belarusian suppliers comes as Morocco continues to balance domestic dairy production with imports of processed products and industrial inputs.

While domestic production covers much of the country's fresh milk consumption, the market remains dependent on foreign supplies for products such as milk powder. According to figures cited by Challenge, Moroccan imports of milk powder have increased substantially in recent years, rising from 10,210 tonnes in 2021 and potentially exceeding 40,000 tonnes in 2024.

Imports accelerated sharply in early 2024. Nearly 23,400 tonnes were reportedly imported during the first quarter alone, representing a value of around 690 million Moroccan dirhams, according to data from Morocco’s Foreign Exchange Office.

Imported food products must also undergo ONSSA controls before customs clearance, making sanitary approval a central component of any attempt by foreign dairy producers to enter the Moroccan market.

A strategic export drive for Minsk

The Moroccan initiative fits into a wider Belarusian push to expand its international dairy business.

Dairy products generated approximately $3.4 billion in Belarusian exports in 2024, accounting for more than 40% of the country's food exports, according to specialized industry reports. Minsk has increasingly sought new destinations in an effort to diversify its customer base and reduce its reliance on the Russian market.

Belarus added ten new export destinations in 2024, bringing the number of foreign markets served by its dairy sector to 69. The country has set an even more ambitious objective for the coming years, targeting $4 billion in annual dairy exports by the end of the decade.

At the same time, Belarus plans to raise dairy production from around 9.2 million tonnes in 2025 to approximately 10.5 million tonnes by 2030.

Trade ties with Morocco are already expanding

The push into Morocco is taking place against a backdrop of growing Belarusian industrial exports to the North African country.

Belarusian government figures indicate that industrial sales to Morocco increased 4.9-fold during the first seven months of 2025. The trend suggests that dairy products could become another component of an expanding commercial relationship between Minsk and Rabat.

For Belarusian exporters, securing regulatory approval in Morocco would therefore have significance beyond the dairy sector, potentially reinforcing a broader effort to deepen economic exchanges with the kingdom.

Previous inspections show the importance of the process

Belarusian officials are also pointing to experience in other international markets to demonstrate the potential impact of the inspection process.

In Indonesia, only four Belarusian dairy companies had reportedly obtained certification before 2026. Following an inspection mission conducted in January and February, another 13 companies were approved, according to Smilgin.

The example highlights how regulatory inspections can rapidly change the number of companies eligible to export once sanitary and veterinary requirements have been verified.

No Belarusian dairy products on Moroccan shelves yet

Despite the progress announced by Minsk, Belarusian dairy products have not yet officially entered the Moroccan retail market.

The upcoming ONSSA assessment remains a critical hurdle. If the inspected facilities receive a favorable evaluation, the technical process between the two countries could be completed, opening the door for eligible Belarusian producers to seek access to Morocco.

For Minsk, the objective is clear: gain another destination for a dairy industry looking to expand internationally. For Morocco, the opening could eventually add another source of supply to a market that already turns to imports for several dairy products.

The immediate outcome, however, depends on the inspectors. Until the Moroccan sanitary authorities complete their assessment, the prospect of Belarusian dairy products reaching Moroccan consumers remains just that—a prospect.