Question for written answer E-007468-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Inés Ayala Sender (S&D)

Information provided by the Kingdom of Morocco’s National Office for Food Safety and Food Products states that the country has processing plants for (frozen) snails destined for export to the EU — Spain (main recipient), Italy, France, Ireland, Belgium, etc. — that meet all the requirements laid down by European legislation for such exports. Up to now, however, the Commission has not included Morocco on the list of countries authorised to export frozen snails to the EU, despite the official request made a year ago.

Many small firms in these importing countries have been waiting for this authorisation for a long time and have expressed their great concern at this lengthy delay and the impact on their businesses: seasonality that is directly linked to jobs, significant losses caused by live transport, product quality (processing makes it possible to conserve more of the original products’ organoleptic properties), etc.

1. When will the Commission include Morocco on the list of countries authorised for imports of frozen land snails into the EU?

2. Why has it not yet done so, and why has it not replied to the Moroccan authorities?