Ahmad 
Morocco’s agriculture ministry on Monday denied rumours of contamination of strawberries exported to Europe, accusing certain parties of trying to discredit the Moroccan producer.
This came in a statement issued by the ministry after some allegations circulated on social media about the presence of the hepatitis A virus in Moroccan strawberries.
The ministry confirmed that laboratory tests for strawberries showed negative results for hepatitis A, stressing that it is closely following the situation and taking the necessary measures to ensure the safety of exported agricultural products.
The National Office for Sanitary Safety of Food Products (ONSA) had opened an investigation after rumors circulated, and the results confirmed that there was no contamination of the irrigation water used in the cultivation of Moroccan strawberries.
The ministry stressed the commitment of farmers to health and quality standards, stressing that Moroccan strawberries enjoy a good reputation globally, and that it will continue its efforts to ensure the quality of exported agricultural products that meet international food safety requirements.
In a statement, the Valencia Farmers Association said the pollution was caused by the use of wastewater for irrigation.
For days in late February, Spanish and French farmers intercepted Moroccan trucks loaded with vegetables heading towards Europe or the local market.
European countries have also seen an escalation in protests carried out by farmers demanding livelihood and financial rights and an end to the policy of dumping cheap Ukrainian and foreign products.