Agroaldea
The pact, signed last friday, will be reflected in a text whose writing began this Monday, as reported yesterday by the EC.
The European Union and Morocco have agreed on the mutual recognition of their respective protected geographical indications (IGP), what “will promote and encourage” commercial relations of agricultural products and food between the parties, yesterday the European Commission indicated.
The agreement also hopes to better protect consumers., by avoiding misleading references about the origin and quality of the product, the Commission specified.
Geographical indications are linked to high quality products that come from the cultural heritage of certain regions or places..
The IGP indicates the link with the territory in, at least, one of the production phases, transformation or elaboration, and include, for example, “Alicante nougat” or the “Canary Islands banana”.
“This agreement gives new impetus to relations between the EU and Morocco. Strengthen our relationship, aimed at promoting and protecting quality products, which benefits farmers and industries on both sides”, declared the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, in a statement.
Hogan recalled that agriculture is “an important chapter” in bilateral cooperation between Brussels and Rabat, in particular in the action plan 2013-2017, which constitutes the roadmap of cooperation between the parties for the coming years.
On the other hand, the European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, recalled “close commercial contact” between the Twenty-Eight and Morocco and indicated that the pact will encourage both parties to continue their negotiations “towards a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement”.
Morocco is the first of the EU's southern neighbors to take the step of recognizing European PGIs.
For its entry into force, The agreement still has to receive the approval of the Council - countries of the Union- and the European Parliament and the Moroccan authorities.