Overview of Food Safety and Labeling Regulatory Frameworks in Morocco
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Submitted
December 17, 2024
Published
August 12, 2025
Keywords:
-
Food products, Labeling, Claims, Fraud, Control, Safety
Abstract
Background: Food fraud and mislabeling pose substantial risks to consumer health, economic integrity, and public trust in the food supply chain. In Morocco, the increasing consumption of processed foods and the prevalence of informal markets further exacerbate the threats associated with food labeling violations.
Aims: This review aims to assess the current state of food labeling and safety regulation in Morocco. A central focus is to analyze the role and effectiveness of the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) in monitoring and enforcing these labeling standards.
Methods: A documentary research approach was employed, involving a comprehensive review of scientific literature, including peer-reviewed articles, as well as official reports and regulatory texts with a particular emphasis on Moroccan legal frameworks.
Results: Morocco has achieved notable progress in regulating food labeling, particularly through the implementation of Decree No. 2–12–389 and the inspection efforts of the ONSSA. However, significant enforcement challenges persist, especially in informal markets and in addressing ambiguous health claims. Annually, a considerable volume of food is seized due to labeling violations. Further progress is hindered by the lack of widespread front-of-pack labeling and inconsistencies in relation to existing regulations.
Conclusions: While Morocco has successfully strengthened its food labeling infrastructure, further improvements are necessary. Enhancing regulatory clarity, expanding producer education, and promoting consumer awareness—particularly through tools such as front-of-pack labeling—are essential for advancing food safety and public health. Greater alignment with international standards and the adoption of digital traceability systems will further support the modernization of Morocco's food system.
Keywords: Food products; Labeling; Claims; Fraud; Control; Safety.
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References
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Cheftel, J. C. (2005). Food and nutrition labelling in the European Union. Food Chemistry, 93(3), 531–550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2004.11.041
Codron, J.-M., Adanacioğlu, H., Aubert, M., Bouhsina, Z., El Mekki, A. A., Rousset, S., Tozanli, S., & Yercan, M. (2014). The role of market forces and food safety institutions in the adoption of sustainable farming practices: The case of the fresh tomato export sector in Morocco and Turkey. Food Policy, 49, 268–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2014.09.006
Conway, É. (2011). Étiquetage obligatoire de l’origine des produits au bénéfice des consommateurs: Portée et limites. Quebec Journal of International Law, 24(2), 1–51. https://doi.org/10.7202/1068279ar
Czine, P., Török, Á., Pető, K., Horváth, P., & Balogh, P. (2020). The Impact of the Food Labeling and Other Factors on Consumer Preferences Using Discrete Choice Modeling—The Example of Traditional Pork Sausage. Nutrients, 12(6), 1768. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061768
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European Parliament. (2014). Report on the food crisis, fraud in the food chain, and and the control thereof (2013/2091(INI)). Report - A7-0434/2013
Galvez, J. F., Mejuto, J. C., & Simal-Gandara, J. (2018). Future challenges on the use of blockchain for food traceability analysis. Trends in Analytical Chemistry: TRAC, 107, 222–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2018.08.011
Guennouni, M., Admou, B., El Khoudri, N., Bourrouhouat, A., Machraoui, S., Jasny, E. K., & Hilali, A. (2022). Allergen’s labeling of food products: Regulatory practices in Morocco. British Food Journal, 124(12), 4188–4199. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-05-2021-0533
Gussow, K. E., & Mariët, A. (2022). The scope of food fraud revisited. Crime, Law and Social Change, 78(5), 621–642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-022-10055-w
Hall, D. C., & Johnson-Hall, T. D. (2021). The value of downstream traceability in food safety management systems: An empirical examination of product recalls. Operations Management Research, 14(1–2), 61–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12063-021-00184-1
Han, Q., Erasmus, S. W., Elliott, C. T., & van Ruth, S. M. (2022). A sense of ginger fraud: prevalence and deconstruction of the China-European union supply chain. Npj Science of Food, 6(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-022-00166-y
Huck, C. W., Pezzei, C. K., & Huck-Pezzei, V. A. (2016). An industry perspective of food fraud. Current Opinion in Food Science, 10, 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2016.07.004
Ikonen, I., Sotgiu, F., Aydinli, A., & Verlegh, P. W. J. (2020). Consumer effects of front-of-package nutrition labeling: An interdisciplinary meta-analysis. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 48(3), 360–383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-019-00663-9
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Authors
Boulaajine, S., & Hajjaj, H. (2025). Overview of Food Safety and Labeling Regulatory Frameworks in Morocco. The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 9(20), 96–111. https://doi.org/10.51745/najfnr.9.20.96-111
Copyright (c) 2025 Samya Boulaajine, Hassan Hajjaj
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