The importation of animal and animal products and feed shall be subject to the laws and regulations in force as regards veterinary health controls.
The application of these rules is ensured by the veterinary services. At the level of Casablanca, Tangier and Agadir, these structures are erected as «Direction du Contrôle et de la Qualité aux postes frontières» (DCQ) and act as a single window. In the other provinces, import controls are carried out by veterinary services at border inspection posts open for import.
In order to facilitate the control and transit operations of products and to avoid any delay and possible blockage at border inspection posts, Importers are advised to inquire beforehand about the conditions required for importation from the Quality and Controls Directorate or the border inspection posts.
Import control procedure
File Setup:
For any import control application, the importer, or their representative, must file a record at the QCD Single Window. This file consists of:
- Request for control according to model (according to a predetermined model), duly completed, signed and stamped.
- Original veterinary health certificate.
- Copy of the certificate of origin.
- Copy of the customs declaration.
- Copy of the invoice.
- The packing list.
- Copy of the bill of lading.
- Any other document required by regulation.
- Record keeping
Registration of import records is done at the DCQ Single Window as follows:
- Records are registered at the single window;
- A record number is assigned to the file.This number must be systematically presented when any information relating to the dossier is exchanged.
- A receipt shall be given to the importer or his representative.
- The Single Window Manager will refer the file to the appropriate technical department.
- Filing Schedule
Files must be filed during the normal administrative opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Veterinary health control consists of three stages, the implementation of which depends in part or in full on the nature and origin of the goods to be checked.
a/ Document check:
This is a systematic step in verifying the content and form of import records or accompanying documents for goods.
b/ Identity and physical checks:
This is a systematic check to ensure that the imported goods comply with the data on the certificates or accompanying documents, imported products meet the requirements of the regulations and conform to the intended use of the documents.
For products with a favourable document check, the identity and physical check is scheduled twice a day.
It should be noted that visits are only carried out in the presence of the importer or his representative and the customs.
c) Laboratory analysis
Where laboratory testing is necessary to ensure the conformity of the goods, the screening officer shall take the samples in the presence of a customs officer and the importer or his representative. Samples shall be taken in accordance with the legislative and regulatory requirements in force. Samples are sent quickly and without delay to the laboratories concerned for analysis.
The time taken to release the results of the analyses depends on the nature of the goods and the types of analyses requested.
It should be noted that in accordance with the interdepartmental circular of 2 May 1996 between MAMVA and the MF, the importer or his representative may remove his goods before the results of the analyses are obtained. The goods must be stored under his responsibility in appropriate premises under customs seal pending the results of analyses.
After the goods have complied with the required controls (all controls are in conformity), the veterinary service shall issue a health certificate for the consignments inspected on national territory.
If one of the checks proves to be non-compliant, the DCQ issues to the Customs Service a sanitary certificate of non admission in the national territory to proceed with the refoulement of the goods in question. A copy is intended for the importer or his representative.
- No handling of returned goods shall be permitted outside of the handling required to load them into a means of transport for the purpose of re-shipment.
- Any transshipment of rejected goods from one mode of transport to another must be requested in writing to the DCQ.
- In the case of products exported from Morocco and rejected by a third country, two cases arise:
- If the reason for rejection is commercial, the product may be admitted for importation on the basis of documentary, identity and physical verification;
- If the reason for rejection concerns health security, the good must undergo an import control including analytical control.