Morocco is expanding import regulations to include products like tobacco and vaping devices, steel goods, school supplies, lighting fixtures, and household appliances.
The Moroccan government is bolstering its import control measures with recent standards taking effect this month. A circular issued on February 17, 2026, by the General Directorate of Trade, details the mandatory implementation of several Moroccan Standards (NM) published in the Official Bulletin in August 2025. After a six-month regulatory period, these standards are now enforceable and require prior conformity checks for market access.
The updated regulations, outlined in Annex XII-17 concerning products subject to import control, cover a wider range of goods, from consumer items to industrial inputs. The new rules specifically address tobacco and nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, shisha tobacco (muassel), electronic cigarettes, e-liquids, and refill cartridges. Standards will govern their technical characteristics, testing methods, safety requirements, and parameters related to composition and emissions.
Several steel products used in the construction and public works sectors are likewise included, such as smooth round steel for concrete, reinforcing bars, welded wire mesh, machine wire, hot-rolled products, certain flat steel products, and construction steels, as well as public lighting fixtures. Requirements focus on mechanical performance, technical specifications, quality criteria, and traceability.
Beyond industrial sectors, the circular also includes common consumer goods, such as school notebooks, certain lighting fixtures like bedside lamps, and household appliances subject to specific technical standards. These products will also need to meet conformity requirements before being sold on the Moroccan market. Specifically, customs clearance of imported goods will now depend on the validation of conformity control results.
This development requires operators to anticipate procedures more effectively and coordinate closely with control organizations and accredited laboratories. While the measure aligns with standard regulatory practices making standards mandatory after a six-month period, its impact is broad. It affects strategic industrial sectors, fast-growing markets like the vaping industry, and widely consumed products. The move underscores the government’s commitment to regulating the domestic market.
Through this update, authorities are reaffirming their commitment to progressively strengthening the regulation of the domestic market, relying on standardization as a means of securing products, improving quality, and structuring competition.
Sami Nemli / Les Inspirations ÉCO
