London, United Kingdom – Following a parliamentary question posed by Kim Johnson MP (Labour, Liverpool Riverside) on February 20, 2026, the UK Government has clarified its firm stance regarding the origin labelling of agricultural goods exported from Western Sahara.
In a response delivered on March 03, 2026, in the House of Commons, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Dame Angela Eagle MP (Labour), confirmed that food products originating from Western Sahara must not be labelled as products of Morocco.
The exchange was prompted by concerns raised regarding the labelling of tomatoes being sold by Tesco. In her initial inquiry, Ms. Johnson asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she was aware that the retailer sells tomatoes from Western Sahara labelled as « produce of Morocco, » and whether she would act to ensure a change.
Today, Minister Eagle addressed the matter directly, reiterating the UK’s commitment to transparent food labelling. In her official response, Dame Angela stated:
« The UK maintains high standards on the information provided on food labels and packaging so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The fundamental principles of our food labelling rules are that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable consumers to make informed decisions. It is the UK position that where origin information is given for food products made or grown in the Western Sahara, it must give accurate origin information and cannot be labelled as Moroccan. Food labelling rules are enforced by local authorities. Defra officials will follow up on the matters raised so that the appropriate bodies can investigate further. »
The Government’s response confirms that labelling Western Sahara produce as Moroccan is inconsistent with the UK’s position and legal framework. By directing the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to follow up on the matter, the Minister has opened the door for local authorities and trading standards bodies to investigate the specific case involving Tesco.
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