The highest Court in the EU has ruled that Western Sahara products cannot be labelled as originating from the neighbouring country Morocco. Help us to investigate in your supermarket.
From October 2024, products from occupied Western Sahara can no longer be labelled as “from Morocco” in European supermarkets, following a ruling from the European Court of Justice of 4 October 2024.
Can you help Western Sahara Resource Watch to find products that are erroneously labelled?
What you should particularly look for:
- Cherry tomatoes, melons and fisheries products referring to the cities of “Dakhla” or “Laayoune”.
- Cherry tomatoes and melons of the labels “Azura”, “Idyl”, “Ajida” or “Les Domaines” labelled “Morocco”.
- Fisheries products that are labelled with UNFAO code 1.31 or 1.32 and “Morocco”.
Notice that the erroneous labelling might be both on the package, as well as on the shop shelf/display.
Thank you for sending us the following:
a) The exact date you found the product; b) the name and coordinates of the shop; c) pictures of the products, preferably close-up of the label as well as the shelf/stand on which the product was found.
Findings can be sent to: wronglabel@wsrw.org
WSRW wrote a report on the EU imports of agricultural products from occupied Western Sahara in 2012. See also this excellent report from 2019 by L’Observatori de Drets Humans i Empreses en la Mediterrània (ODHE) on the Spanish imports of octopus from the occupied territory. This report contains names of brands that might potentially be selling octopus from Western Sahara.
Since you're here....
WSRW’s work is being read and used more than ever. We work totally independently and to a large extent voluntarily. Our work takes time, dedication and diligence. But we do it because we believe it matters – and we hope you do too. We look for more monthly donors to support our work. If you'd like to contribute to our work – 3€, 5€, 8€ monthly… what you can spare – the future of WSRW would be much more secure. You can set up a monthly donation to WSRW quickly here.
The way ahead - this is what WSRW recommends
What should we expect from the EU institutions, the member states and the businesses now as David beat Goliath in the EU Court of Justice? WSRW has carved out some suggested steps.
EU Commission “takes note” of the EU court rulings
The EU Commission this afternoon commented on its loss in the EU Court of Justice regarding trade and fisheries in the territory of Western Sahara.
Saharawis celebrate EU court ruling
Saharawi refugees today took to the streets in the refugee camps to celebrate the victories in the EU Court of Justice.
EU Parliament to hold Western Sahara debates at committee level?
The European Parliament has expressed itself in favour of holding debates in three parliament committees about the exclusion of Western Sahara from EU-Morocco trade agreements.