Every year Morocco exports hundreds of thousands of tonnes of seafood to Europe, Africa and Asia. For importers, wholesalers and processors, it is a reliable source of frozen fish and cephalopods, provided purchases are well prepared. Here are the key steps.
1. Choose an approved supplier
In Morocco, facilities that prepare and freeze fishery products must hold a health approval issued by ONSSA (National Food Safety Office). For the European Union, the facility must also be on the list of establishments authorised to export. Always ask for your supplier's approval number and check its hygiene and traceability practices, such as an HACCP approach.
2. Define your request precisely
To receive a suitable offer, specify:
- the species and presentation (whole, cleaned, tubes, IQF or blocks);
- the sizes and packaging you need (carton weight, glazing, labelling);
- the quantity, often expressed in containers, and the delivery schedule;
- the destination country and its health requirements.
3. Export documents
A shipment of frozen fish usually comes with a commercial invoice, a packing list, a bill of lading and an official health certificate. For the European Union, a catch certificate is mandatory under the rules against illegal fishing (IUU regulation), and the EUR.1 certificate of origin gives access to the tariff preferences of the EU-Morocco association agreement. Other countries may require specific certificates: check them with your freight forwarder before ordering.
4. Incoterms and refrigerated transport
The most common Incoterms are FOB (goods loaded at the port of departure), CFR and CIF (sea freight paid by the seller, plus insurance for CIF). Frozen fish travels in 20 or 40-foot refrigerated containers (reefers) kept at –18 °C or below. From Agadir, shipments leave by sea; for Europe, refrigerated trucks via the Strait of Gibraltar are also an option for shorter lead times.
5. Check quality on arrival
On arrival, check the temperature of the container and products, the condition of the cartons, the glazing rate and that sizes match the order. Good communication with the supplier, including photos and temperature records at loading, prevents most disputes.
FRIGO EL JAOUHARI, an ONSSA-approved facility in Agadir, supports importers from product selection to shipment. Send us your request to receive an offer.