German and Irish law organisations demand that Messe Berlin ceases to accept the controversial French tomato producer Azura.
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.
SRI update
The following overview enlists stock-exchange registered companies with current or recent operations in occupied Western Sahara. Updated 12 September 2025.
Skretting Turkey misled about sustainability
Dutch-Norwegian fish feed giant admits using conflict fishmeal from occupied Western Sahara. Yesterday, it removed a fake sustainability claim from its website.
Beware of products carrying a “GGN” code
Tomatoes from occupied Western Sahara, certified by GLOBALG.A.P., are being sold in German grocery stores with a false country of origin.
Farmer in exile: GLOBALG.A.P. is certifying injustice
A Saharawi refugee farmer expresses shock about the German certification scheme qualifying Moroccan agriculture in his illegally occupied homeland as sustainable.