Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Luis Planas has dismissed the recent European Parliament debate on labeling products from the Sahara as nothing more than a «political campaign with clear intentions» that ultimately failed to achieve its goal. He welcomed the rejection of the objection that sought to undermine the agreement with Morocco. Speaking to the Spanish news agency EFE from Istanbul, Planas noted that the attempt to overturn the agreement on labeling products originating from Western Sahara did not obtain the required majority. As a result, the agreement remains in force, allowing the import of fruits and vegetables from the Sahara with labels referring to one of the two regions, without specifying the country of origin. The minister highlighted that Spain's Socialist Workers' Party backed the agreement, distinguishing itself from other social democratic parties. He accused the Spanish People's Party of driving a political campaign against an agreement that has existed since 2000 and was updated in 2012, calling its stance «surprising». Planas stressed that the labeling rules do not affect quotas, entry prices, or trade flows, and reminded that all agricultural products entering the European Union must meet the strict standards of the European Food Safety Authority, regardless of the origin indicated on the label.
