As previously explained by MoroccoLatestNews UKthe prices of red meat have soared in various butcher shops in Morocco, due, according to professionals, to the scarcity of the product on the national market and the high fees imposed on imports.
In an effort to precisely curb this surge in red meat prices, which have exceeded 100 DH/kg for veal and between 100 and 120 DH/kg for mutton, government spokesman Mustafa Baitas , recalled the recent decision of the Executive “ to exempt importers from value added tax (VAT), in order to facilitate the supply of the national market with its needs in cows intended for rapid slaughter, which will contribute to lowering prices “.
Interacting with a question in this regard, during the weekly press briefing at the end of the Council of Government on Thursday, Mustapha Baitas confided that ” the government responded to the grievances raised by professionals for some time after a long discussion, during which it became clear that the VAT was suspended, in addition to adopting the decree relating to the cessation of the collection of import duties imposed on cattle “.
In his response, the government official expressed his wish to see lower prices for red meat, before mentioning “ the continuation of the suspension of customs duties applied to imports of soft and durum wheat, etc., which are heavily consumed, especially in the month of Ramadan “.
Moreover, the Moroccan government had approved, during a previous CG, the draft decree n ° 2.23.47 modifying the decree n ° 2.22.818 of 22 rabia I 1444 (October 19, 2022) suspending the rights of importation of cattle presented by Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance.
Furthermore, Baitas revealed that “ meat price and quality control committees work at local, provincial and regional level “, pointing out that” the prefects and governors supervised regular field trips to monitor product outlets, restaurants and industrial institutions.
As well,“reports are sent to the central ministerial committee, which meets regularly once a month, on these operations, and works intensively to follow them up”he specified, in the first place, “ reducing all forms of price speculation “, revealing that” strict instructions have been given to intensify surveillance in order to limit all practices that disrupt the normal functioning of markets, whether in the field of supply, price compliance or quality standards “.
Re “ national food price and quality control Baitas disclosed the counting of 859 price and quality violations, while 139 warnings were issued and 720 citations were filed to prosecute offenders.
He also reported ” that approximately 30 tonnes of foodstuffs unfit for consumption or not conforming to legal specifications were seized and destroyed “.