Poultry units

The Moroccan poultry industry has grown considerably in recent decades and significant investments have been injected in this sector (estimated in 2008 at about 8 billion Dhs with an estimated cumulative turnover of 16.7 billion Dhs)This required support from public authorities both in terms of regulations and in terms of its health upgrading. This progress has enabled the poultry sector to play a leading role in the national economy, notably through the total satisfaction of the market for white meat and table eggs.

Over the past 30 years, these investments have increased production of white meats and eggs by more than 600%, and have thus helped to meet the growing consumer demand for poultry products. For example, white meat accounts for over 50% of all meat consumed.

In this sense, the control of the health situation of the poultry herd is a priority to ensure better productivity and a regular supply of white meat to the national market.

For example, since 2000, a strategy for upgrading the poultry sector based essentially on the overall health management of poultry units has been put in place. This has been reinforced by the publication of a legal and regulatory arsenal since 2006 governing the various activities of the sector (from livestock to the consumer): loi n°49-99 on the health protection of poultry farms, on the control of the production and marketing of poultry products and on its implementing legislation.

 This strategy is based, among other things, on the establishment of health barriers, the establishment of effective health monitoring and supervision, and the control of contagious avian diseases, including avian typhosis.

Currently, all poultry activities are conditioned by obtaining prior authorisation to practice from the provincial veterinary services under ONSSA.