In the issue of 09.02.2016, the consumer programme Kassensturz reported in detail on the unclean declaration of tomatoes from Western Sahara. terre des hommes schweiz is demanding that Swiss retailers immediately stop importing products from Western Sahara. Take action and write to your retailer!
Show research by the SRF programme Kassensturz and terre des hommes schweiz: Many Swiss retailers conceal the origin of products from the conflict region of Western Sahara. For example, tomatoes from the territory occupied by Morocco are often illegally labelled with the designation of origin "Morocco". For this reason, terre des hommes schweiz is calling on retailers Migros, Denner and Volg to stop selling products from the Western Sahara.
Legitimisation of the occupation through economic relations
The agricultural production of Moroccan and international companies in Western Sahara is in violation of international law. Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco for over 40 years. Because the Saharawi people are still not granted the right to exercise their right to self-determination and have never been properly consulted, vegetable production in Western Sahara violates the "fundamental principle of international law of permanent access to their own resources". Economic relations with companies in the occupied territories legitimise the Moroccan occupation and cement the status quo.
Evasive and unsatisfactory responses from retailers
The retailers Migros, Denner and Volg react evasively and unsatisfactorily to the criticism. Migros responded to queries from the sda. "We will not boycott." Migros will continue to purchase melons from Western Sahara on a seasonal basis. The company is only prepared to declare products from Western Sahara precisely as such. The customers should decide if they want to buy this product or not. Denner announces: "We are checking with the suppliers whether we want to stick to Migros practice in the future". Volg writes, at Kassensturz's request, that products from Western Sahara will be declared accordingly. That is not enough!
Consumers must put pressure on!
Economic relations with companies in the occupied territories support the occupying power. That is why it is up to us to act: write a letter to Migros, Denner and Volg, demanding that no more goods from Western Sahara should be sold. Use our simple form for this.
