G/SPS/N/MAR/91  
2 November  2022 
(22-8228) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member : MOROCCO  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible : Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires , 
ONSSA  (National Office for Food Safety)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable) : Plant protection products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document : Projet de décret pris pour l'application des dispositions 
de la loi n° 34 -18 relative aux produits phytopharmaceutiques (Draft decree implementing 
the provisions of Law No. 34-18 on plant protection products) Language(s) : French 
Number of pages : 25 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/MAR/22_7386_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content : The notified draft decree, implementing Law No. 34-18 on plant 
protection products, sets out the arrangements for the introduction of the national 
phytopharmacovigilance plan and for the assessment and processing of:  
1. applications for the approval of active substances, safeners and synergists;  
2. applications for marketing authorization for plant protection products and adjuvants;  
3. applications for authorization to conduct experimentation activities involving plant 
protection products and adjuvants ; and 
4. applications for authorization to engage in th e manufacturing, repackaging, 
importation, and wholesale and retail distribution of plant protection products and 
adjuvants, and to provide services pertaining to their use.  
The notified draft decree establishes the content of the files that are to accompa ny the 
above -mentioned applications , and the procedure for assessing and processing 
applications . It also describes the decisions that may be taken in light of the outcome and 
conclusions of the assessment and processing of applications, and sets out the r easons 
for withdrawing the approval and authorization given under Law No. 34-18 and its 
implementing texts.  
In addition, the decree establishes the control procedures to be followed by authorized 
ONSSA officials when investigating and recording infringemen ts committed during the 
importation, manufacture, repackaging, distribution, sale, putting up for sale and 
warehousing of plant protection products and adjuvants, and during activities pertaining 
thereto.  G/SPS/N/MAR/91  
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  7. Objective and rationale : [X] food safety, [X] animal health, [X] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests  
8. Is there a relevant international standard ? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : 
[ ] World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. T errestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. I SPM number) : 
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
− http://www.onssa.gov.ma/images/reglementation/reglementation -
sectorielle/vegetaux -et-produits -dorigine -vegetaux/Sante -
vegetale/Pesticides/LOI.34 -18.FR.pdf  
− http://www.onssa.gov.ma/images/reglementation/reglementation -
sectorielle/vegetaux -et-produits -dorigine -vegetaux/Sante -
vegetale/Pesticides/LOI.42 -95.FR.c1.pdf  
− Internation al Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides (revised 
version) , adopted by the hundred and twenty -third session of the FAO Council in 
November 2 002. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations . Rome, 
2003. ISBN 92 -5-104914 -9 (https://www.fao.org/3/bt480e/bt480e.pdf ) 
− Rotterdam Convention : Current PIC Circular LV , June 2 022 
http://www.pic.int/Implementation/PICCircular/tabid/1168/language/en -
US/Default.aspx  
− Guidelines on public health pesticide management policy for the WHO Africa region , 
WHO, 2011 edition  
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/97939/9789241501231_eng.pdf;js
essionid=67A2B7A985057F7552CFDD043D9AA63B?sequence=1  
− Designing national pesticide legislation , FAO, 2007 edition  
https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ebf8d936 -31da-5d08-9081-
a2fa9e653206/  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined  
11. Proposed date of entry into force : [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : Immediately after publication in the Offici al Journal of Morocco.  
NB: Upon the date of entry into force of the notified decree, the active substances, safeners and 
synergists used in plant protection products and adjuvants that have been approved or authorized 
for sale under Law No. 42-95 on the control and organization of tr ade in pesticides for agricultural 
use, as amended and supplemented, shall be included on a provisional list kept by ONSSA for a 
period not exceeding 10 years . Applications for approval are to be submitted for the above -mentioned 
active substances, safener s and synergists, in accordance with the provisions of the notified decree, 
according to a timetable established and made available to the public by ONSSA.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  G/SPS/N/MAR/91  
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  12. Final date for comments : [X] Sixty days from the date of circula tion of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 1 January 2 023 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments : [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point . Address, fax number and email address 
(if available) of other body:  
Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires  (National Office for Food 
Safety)  
Division de la Normalisation et des Questions SPS  (Standardization and SPS Matters 
Division)  
Direction de l'Évaluation des Risques et des Affaires Juridiques  (Directorate of Risk 
Assessment and Legal Affairs)  
Avenue Hadj Ahmed Cherkaoui  
Tel.: (+212) 05 37 67 65 11/13  
Mobile : 006 7399 7817  
Fax: (+212) 05 3768 2049  
Email: enquirypoint.spsmar@onssa.gov.ma  
Website: http://www.onssa.gov.ma  
13. Text(s) available from : [X] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enqu iry 
Point . Address, fax number and email address (if available) of other body:  
Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires  (National Office for Food 
Safety)  
Division de la Normalisation et des Questions SPS  (Standardization and SPS Matt ers 
Division)  
Direction de l'Évaluation des Risques et des Affaires Juridiques  (Directorate of Risk 
Assessment and Legal Affairs)  
Avenue Hadj Ahmed Cherkaoui  
Tel.: (+212) 05 37 67 65 11/13  
Mobile : 006 7399 7817  
Fax: (+212) 05 3768 2049  
Email: enquirypoint.spsmar@onssa.gov.ma  
Website: http://www.onssa.gov.ma