Spain publishes a list of products banned from transport

As Operation Marhaba draws to a close, Moroccans residing abroad are being ordered by the Spanish authorities not to transport certain products and foodstuffs. A list and a detail of quantities have been provided for this purpose.

The MRE return operation has already started in mid-July, but it is expected that the maximum number of people will not return to their country of residence from August 15 until the end of the month.

Stating the objective of ensuring the preservation of sanitary conditions in the European area (avoiding the entry of animal diseases, pests, plant diseases), the Spanish port authorities have published a guide to explain to travelers from Morocco what products were authorized and those which were prohibited in their luggage.

The instructions are published to prevent Moroccans returning from vacation from being disappointed or frustrated in the event of the confiscation of their products.

“We remind you that European regulations do not authorize the introduction into Community territory of: meat, dairy products or derivatives, vegetables, plants and trees” or eggs, wrote the Port of Algeciras on Twitter in a post accompanied by an explanatory illustration.

The same source indicates that there are however exceptions when it comes to “personal consumption”. Among the fruits and vegetables allowed are coconut, banana, and dates only.

The tomatoes, watermelons, oranges and melon that Moroccans love will be difficult to pass, according to the poster from the Spanish port authorities.

Oil is authorized but the quantity is fixed at 3 liters, sugar and couscous and other basic products, on their side cannot be transported beyond 2 kilos each.

The Port Authority of Algeciras also specifies that plants, flowers and seeds cannot be transported without a phytosanitary certificate, even if they come from territories such as Sebta and Melilla or the Canary Islands.

Regarding the cities of Sebta and Melilla in particular, the rules are less strict for Moroccan travelers. The City Government Delegation has distributed a poster in which it indicates, among other things, that gifts and souvenirs must not exceed a value of 100 euros, 4 units of bread are authorized, oil and pickles are authorized within the limit of 5 kilos provided that they are packaged and labelled.

Fruits and vegetables in this specific case are authorized within the limit of 10 kilos. Herbal teas, infusions, pantes and aromatic herbs, food supplements are authorized within the limit of 2 kilos and cannot be combined, ie the total of all products in this category must not exceed 2 kilos.

Food products that can be stored at room temperature are set at 5 kilos but their composition must not contain meat, eggs, milk… Similarly, cigarettes are authorized within the limit of 200 units.

The same source specifies that multiple entries with authorized products may be considered commercial and therefore prohibited.

The Marhaba operation via the Tanger Med port has welcomed more than 760,000 passengers in both directions since the start of the operation on June 5, a performance 10% higher than in 2019, according to estimates.