Following the circulation of shocking images from the weekly market slaughterhouse in the commune of Had Draa, in the Essaouira province, the Consumer Protection Association stressed that these scenes are not isolated incidents. Rather, they point to a serious and widespread failure in the health and safety systems governing rural slaughterhouses in Morocco. In response to the recent viral photos showing filthy conditions at a slaughterhouse in the weekly market of Had Draa commune, Essaouira region, the Consumer Protection Association confirmed that these disturbing images—depicting blood and filth scattered throughout—highlight a broader crisis affecting rural slaughterhouses across Morocco, which suffer from neglect and a lack of compliance with health and safety standards. A Tragic Reality by All Measures Commenting on the issue, Mohamed Kimaoui, President of the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Protection Associations, described the situation not as an isolated event but as a tragic reality faced by most rural slaughterhouses in Morocco. He said, «These slaughterhouses operate in dangerous chaos and randomness, far from any organization or compliance with international health standards, posing a serious threat to consumer health and exposing a deep flaw in the health safety system». Kimaoui emphasized that the «absence of effective oversight by ONSSA» (the body responsible for food safety) is a key reason for this disaster, as its role is limited to sending a veterinarian once every three months or more, with no proper follow-up or inspections. «Can we imagine dogs roaming freely inside slaughter areas? Or chicken meat left for hours under the sun, swarming with insects? Unfortunately, this is the reality of these slaughterhouses», he argued. The activist expressed regret, noting that most of these slaughterhouses are not accredited. The number of officially accredited slaughterhouses is very limited, while the vast majority operate without licenses or supervision, yet they remain the primary source of meat consumed daily by Moroccan families. Accredited slaughterhouses are the only ones licensed by ONSSA after meeting strict requirements, such as providing a dedicated resting space for animals for 24 to 48 hours before slaughter, clear separation between slaughtering and skinning areas, availability of refrigeration, sewage systems, roofs to prevent intrusion by stray animals, and other hygiene standards, according to Kimaoui. A Serious Threat to Public Health Kimaoui warned about the health repercussions of this neglect, especially for rural populations, pointing to overcrowded regional hospitals due to illnesses from consuming unsafe meat—a real threat to public health. He recalled his visit to the Ida Outanane slaughterhouse, describing the inhumane conditions there as even worse than those seen in Had Draa, with meat exposed openly for hours under the sun without any protection. Moreover, meat transportation methods remain primitive and unhygienic in many areas, increasing contamination risks and endangering consumer health. «Some meat is transported on traditional carts pulled by donkeys or on three-wheeled motorcycles, and sometimes delivered in unrefrigerated vehicles—posing an additional risk to consumers», he unveiled. In light of this situation, Kimaoui noted that the association has organized several seminars and issued repeated warnings about these dangers, emphasizing that citizens are consuming «real poisons» daily, yet these warnings have been ignored by the authorities. He held the Ministry of Agriculture and current Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who served as Minister of Agriculture, fully responsible, highlighting serious imbalances in the agriculture and food safety sectors during his tenure. He concluded with a call to urgently address the issue to protect public health and the right to safe food, demanding stronger oversight, strict standards enforcement, and modernization of slaughterhouse infrastructure in line with international norms. «It's time to take this seriously». Official Figures Reveal Systemic Fragility Official figures show only 14 accredited slaughterhouses in Morocco, compared to 264 slaughterhouses without any supervision and 533 under partial supervision, according to former Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Mohamed Sadiki in September 2022. On May 3, 2025, the current Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed El Bouari, acknowledged multiple challenges hindering the proper integration of the red meat sector in Morocco, including poor infrastructure, inadequate hygiene, and weak management. El Bouari outlined a plan to rehabilitate and build 120 accredited slaughterhouses nationwide by 2030, under the supervision of the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA).
