Morocco updates regulations to enhance vegetable oil quality and safety

11:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco updates regulations to enhance vegetable oil quality and safety

Morocco has introduced a new government decree to tighten control over the quality and safety of vegetable oils and fats intended for consumption. This initiative seeks to modernize outdated regulations, protect consumers, and align national standards with international benchmarks.

The decree applies to all virgin or refined vegetable oils and fats derived from seeds or fruits, whether individually or in blends. However, it excludes olive oil, olive-pomace oil, argan oil, and spreadable vegetable fats. The update enforces food safety laws and reflects the rapid evolution of the vegetable oil market.

Prepared under Law 28.07 on food safety, the decree provides precise definitions for various oil categories, such as virgin oils, cold-pressed oils, and refined oils. It establishes strict naming conventions to ensure transparency. For instance, “virgin oil” or “virgin fat” must specify the fruit or seed of origin, while refined oils must include the term “refined” in their labeling. Blends of edible oils are labeled as “vegetable oil,” and those combining fats or oils as “vegetable fat.”

Producers, processors, and distributors are now required to obtain sanitary authorizations and adhere to traceability procedures during production. Importers must verify that foreign products comply with Moroccan standards. Additionally, oils must be sold in sealed, food-safe containers that cannot be resealed after opening.

The labeling regulations mandate clear and accurate information, such as terms like “cold-pressed” or “suitable for frying,” along with usage instructions. A limit of 25% polar compounds is set to regulate oil degradation during frying. The decree also bans unauthorized additives and enforces strict limits on contaminants and pesticide residues.

Processes such as fractionation, hydrogenation, and interesterification remain permissible for refined oils, but re-esterification, which poses potential health risks, is prohibited.

This comprehensive regulatory update aims to safeguard consumer health, improve product standards, and facilitate fair trade practices in Morocco’s growing vegetable oil market.