ONSSA & Sanitary Controls
The Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires (ONSSA) translated as Morocco’s National Office for Food Safety, is Morocco’s national authority responsible for food safety, sanitary controls and a wide range of import/export checks involving food, animal products, plant products and agricultural inputs.
For international buyers, ONSSA matters because many regulated Moroccan exports must satisfy sanitary or phytosanitary requirements before shipment. These requirements can relate both to Moroccan law and to the rules of the destination country.
What ONSSA Checks
Depending on the product, ONSSA controls may include:
- approval status of the producing or processing establishment;
- sanitary documentation;
- product identity and origin;
- packaging and labelling;
- physical conformity of the shipment;
- laboratory analysis;
- compliance with the sanitary requirements of the destination market.
For certain animal-origin exports, ONSSA verifies that Morocco is authorised to export the product to the destination country, that the establishment of origin is approved, and that the sanitary certificate corresponds to the specific lots being exported.
Sanitary Certificates
Where required, ONSSA issues sanitary export certification after the relevant controls have been completed satisfactorily.
The form of certificate can differ according to the product and destination country. ONSSA publishes validated certificate models for a range of animal-origin products and destination markets.
For buyers, this means that sanitary certification should be discussed with the supplier before production and shipment, particularly for food, seafood and other controlled products.
Approved Establishments
ONSSA also publishes information relating to approved or authorised food establishments.
When sourcing regulated food products, buyers should confirm that the producing or processing establishment has the appropriate approval or authorisation for the product and destination concerned. ONSSA’s website includes sections covering sanitary approvals, authorised establishments, food controls and import/export certification.
Why This Matters to Buyers
An ONSSA approval number or sanitary certificate should not be treated simply as another line of paperwork.
It can help a buyer establish:
- who produced or processed the goods;
- whether the establishment is recognised by the competent Moroccan authority;
- whether the shipment has passed the relevant sanitary controls;
- whether the documentation corresponds to the goods being exported.
The exact requirements will depend on the product and destination market.
Official ONSSA Information
For current regulations, approved establishments, export certification procedures and sanitary certificate models, buyers should consult ONSSA directly.
Visit the official ONSSA website
Useful ONSSA sections include import and export controls, export certification, validated sanitary certificate models, sanitary approvals and lists of approved establishments.
Related ExMaroc Resources
From this page, ExMaroc can link naturally to:
Sanitary Certificates · Traceability · Morocco Foodex · Importing from Morocco · Verified Moroccan Food & Seafood Suppliers
ExMaroc provides practical sourcing information for international buyers. Regulatory requirements can change and may differ by product and destination. Buyers and exporters should confirm current requirements with ONSSA and the competent authorities in the destination market before shipment.