The Ministry of Commerce and Export Development has seized 54,000 non-compliant school items ahead of the 2026 school year. The announcement was made on 10 September 2026, right in the middle of the back-to-school shopping period.
What exactly was seized
Among the items pulled from the market are 2,576 glue sticks containing toxic organic solvents. These substances pose a direct health risk, especially to children.
Another seizure: 1,255 novelty erasers shaped like fruit and vegetables. Their non-compliance was identified during inspections.
How the inspections were carried out
Ministry officials carried out more than 400 inspection visits on the ground. They also took 760 samples to check for dangerous chemical substances in products sold to families.
The result of these operations: more than 150 economic offences were recorded. These include non-compliant products, concealing goods and failing to display prices.
What to do if you spot a suspicious product
Saloua Fatnassi, director of quality at the ministry, has called for vigilance. She urged all citizens to report any offence via the freephone number 80 100 191.
In practice, if you're buying supplies for yourself or a younger brother or sister, check that prices are displayed and labels are in order. If you have any doubts about a product, reporting it is the quickest way to alert the relevant services.
These inspections are part of the routine operations carried out every school year, when demand for supplies surges in shops. The results of the 2026 campaign will be published by the ministry, which regularly reports on seizures made.