German trade fair should stop promoting Azura, groups say
Article image

German and Irish law organisations demand that Messe Berlin ceases to accept the controversial French tomato producer Azura.

Published 09 September 2019

The Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), based in Ireland, and the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) released on, 6 September 2019, an open letter to Messe Berlin GmbH, the organiser of the leading Fruit Logistica trade show, and its Ombudsperson. 

The letter addresses allegations of illegal conduct by one of the show’s exhibitors and Messe’s responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGP) in relation to their hosting of this business. 

The French company ‘Azura Group’ exports tomatoes from occupied Western Sahara to Europe. 

GLAN and ECCHR write in a release that Messe Berlin had responded poorly to a request earlier this year to make the fair stop promoting Azura, and that the two groups therefore proceeded to publish the correspondence. 

New report: Greenwashing Occupation

Out now: WSRW today publishes a new report outlining the massive - and deeply problematic - renewable energy projects that Morocco is developing in occupied Western Sahara. 

11 December 2025

GMP+ does not check if “sustainable” fish is legally caught

The world’s largest certification scheme for “safe and sustainable animal feed” does not check whether its certified fish feed companies source from illegal fisheries in occupied Western Sahara, where catches violate the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination.

05 December 2025

ASC withdraws from occupied Western Sahara

Certification scheme ends involvement with Azura Group and declares that no future certifications will be granted to companies in the occupied territory.

04 December 2025

Morocco plans another giant power line from occupied Western Sahara

Don’t be fooled by the clean-energy rhetoric on this new 1,000 km power line – this is about infrastructural annexation of occupied land.

04 December 2025