Reducing the number of heads covered by import subsidies raises the question of the abundance of sacrificial animals during the Eid, and professionals clarify the matter.

Agadir 24 | Agadir24

It is expected that a group of professionals will begin importing sheep heads from abroad, in preparation for the occasion of Eid Al-Adha.

In this context, professional sources revealed that import applications were submitted to the National Professional Office for Cereals and Cotton, in order to license the start of import operations.

The same sources added that the government agreed to support the import of livestock by suspending the value-added tax on the import of livestock.

Like last year, this matter opened wide questions about the possibilities of supplying the local market with sacrificial animals, and thus reducing prices, especially after the subsidy provided for each head of sheep was reduced to include the import of 300,000 heads instead of 500,000.

In response to this issue, Mohamed Jabali, President of the Moroccan Federation of Livestock Sector Actors, revealed that import operations are now governed by certain conditions, namely that each importer specifies an amount of 500 dirhams for each head of sheep, and a weight of 30 kilograms or more for each head, and in the event that this is not met, These conditions are not supported by support.

Regarding the possibility of these conditions being limited to the abundance of sacrifices during the Eid, Jabali explained that the standards set by the National Cereals and Cotton Office are not difficult, but only require applications to be submitted by professionals directly to the office to benefit.

The same speaker added that importing 300,000 is not a large number compared to the 6 million heads that Moroccans slaughter on every Eid al-Adha occasion, indicating that the goal of importing is to preserve future livestock at the national level, and this will only be done by encouraging the import of sheep and livestock from the outside.

It should be noted that the National Professional Office for Grains and Cotton had announced the allocation of a subsidy of 500 dirhams per head to import approximately 300,000 heads of sheep, which will cost a budget estimated at 150 million dirhams, during the period from March 15 to June 15. 2024.

A publication by the National Professional Office for Grains and Cotton confirmed that, on the occasion of the approaching Eid al-Adha, the import prices of sheep will be reduced, and consequently their selling prices in the national market, highlighting that the aim of this measure is to reduce the costs of importing livestock in order to be able to reduce the rise in sheep meat prices in the national market. And also during the Eid al-Adha period, and maintaining price stability during this religious occasion.

This decision, issued jointly by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, stipulates that importers wishing to benefit from this support must meet several criteria, including ensuring compliance with the period specified for importation, and to do so, It is necessary to submit the import certificate issued by the Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration.

The support, estimated at 500 dirhams per head, will be paid on the basis of this import certificate, which must include several elements, including the receipt number issued by the National Import and Export Office, the total number of sheep imported, the gross and net weight, as well as the date of unloading.