This update focuses on Belarusian dairy Morocco. Moroccan inspectors are expected to travel to Belarus to check several dairy plants, a decisive step before Belarusian dairy can enter the Moroccan market.
Belarusian dairy Morocco: a new supplier in sight
According to the Belarusian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, experts from Morocco’s National Food Safety Office (ONSSA) will carry out on-site audits of several dairy facilities.
Their goal is to assess whether Belarusian production lines comply with Moroccan veterinary and health standards. Minsk presents this visit as the final step before officially opening the Moroccan market to Belarusian dairy products.
For Moroccans living abroad who regularly return home, the arrival of Belarusian dairy in Morocco could, in time, broaden the range of products available in supermarkets and potentially affect prices for some processed items.
A Moroccan market already reliant on dairy imports
Morocco covers most of its domestic consumption of fresh milk through local production. However, it relies on imports for a wide range of processed products and industrial inputs, especially milk powder.
Milk powder imports rose from 10,210 tonnes in 2021 to a level that could exceed 40,000 tonnes in 2024, according to data reported by economic media. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, Morocco imported nearly 23,400 tonnes of milk powder, worth around 690 million dirhams, according to the Foreign Exchange Office.
In this context, the potential arrival of Belarusian dairy in Morocco is part of a strategy to diversify supply sources. It could influence competition between exporters and affect costs for the Moroccan food industry.
How ONSSA will assess Belarusian dairy plants
According to the Belarusian ministry, the ONSSA mission will examine the entire production chain, from farms to finished products. Moroccan inspectors are expected to look closely at several key aspects:
- control and traceability of raw materials used in dairy products;
- farming practices and conditions for dairy cattle;
- laboratory testing of finished products before export;
- mandatory certification and compliance procedures.
Belarusian deputy minister Ivan Smilgin, who oversees veterinary and food monitoring, says companies will be inspected under their usual operating conditions and that Belarus is fully open to the Moroccan inspection.
In Morocco, all imported food products are subject to ONSSA checks before customs clearance. The audit in Belarus is therefore designed to secure the upstream segment of the chain, in addition to checks carried out at Moroccan borders.
A Belarusian dairy sector built on exports
The dairy sector plays a major role in the Belarusian economy. According to specialized media, Belarusian dairy exports reached 3.4 billion US dollars in 2024, representing more than 40% of the country’s food exports.
Belarus is seeking to broaden its markets, particularly in countries such as Morocco, which already import significant volumes of dairy products. Industrial sales from Belarus to Morocco have already increased 4.9-fold over the first seven months of 2025, according to the Belarusian government.
A recent example in Indonesia shows how such audits can change the map for exporters. In that country, only four Belarusian dairy companies were certified until 2026. After an inspection mission carried out in January and February, 13 additional companies received approval, according to Ivan Smilgin.
What it could mean for consumers in Morocco and abroad
For now, Belarusian dairy is not yet on Moroccan shelves. Any decision to open the market will depend on the findings of the ONSSA mission.
If the assessment is positive, shoppers in Morocco – including Moroccans visiting from abroad – could gradually see new brands or origins appear, particularly in processed dairy products.
For Moroccan families abroad who regularly compare prices between their host country and Morocco, the issue has two sides: tighter food safety oversight by ONSSA on one hand, and the possibility, over time, of more competition on costs for industry players and retailers on the other.
The major unknown remains how import prices and margins along the local value chain will evolve. The upcoming visit of ONSSA inspectors to Belarus will be crucial in determining the next steps.
For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.
For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.
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