It took a grassroots mobilization to force the Italian government to reinstate the factory location requirement on the label.
The Italian government has finally taken action, after three years of silence and false proclamations. And from Brussels, finally, the green light for the standard to protect Made in Italy.
Mandatory declaration of the location of the production plant on the label of Italian food products-as we have already explained-is the only way. To protect Made in Italy, in Italy and abroad, against counterfeiting and so-called Italian sounding.
The Council of Ministers had notified Brussels in March of the draft decree reinstating the requirement to mention the location of the establishment on labels for food made in Italy. (1)
In Brussels, the first complaints have come from the European lobbies of some categories–dietary supplements and sports foods, wines–who still see label transparency as smoke and mirrors. (2)
Accusations of protectionism have come from Germany, Austria, Denmark and Spain. But on closer inspection, the Italian measure is as uncontroversial today as it was in 1992, when it was first introduced and was in fact recognized as legitimate by the European Commission itself.
The European Commission has been stalling. Three more months of waiting, until 2.10.17. With a request for clarification from the Italian government, on the formalities of the notification procedure. Which is inscribed within the scope of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/11 (so-called Food Information Regulation), as special legislation. Instead of in the context of theTechnical Regulation Information System(TRIS) introduced by Directive 98/34/EC, as amended.
Beyond the forms, the substance remains that of an urgent and shared need to manifest to Italian, European and global consumers the effectiveness of the Made in Italy label. To clearly and unambiguously distinguish foods produced in Italy from those that unjustifiably evoke that origin (so-called Italian Sounding).
Not to mention the desirability of extending the requirement to cite the location of the production facility to all foods made in the European Union. To optimize traceability and facilitate the management in Europe of any possible food safety crisis. (3)
Dario Dongo
Notes
(1) In fact, this requirement had already been in force in Italy since 1992. But it lapsed on 14.1214, the date when reg. EU 1169/11. Because then-minister Federica Guidi deliberately omitted her notification to the European Commission
(3) Pursuant to reg. EC 178/02, Article 18. A nearly revolutionary standard in its time, which 12 years after implementation now deserves to be strengthened
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.