A new bill against food fraud and in defense of “Made in Italy” has recently been approved by the Council of Ministers, as announced by the Agriculture Councillor of Lombardy, Alessandro Beduschi. The measure, consisting of 18 articles, introduces criminal and administrative penalties to combat fraud, with particular attention to the phenomenon of Italian Sounding, which, according to global estimates, is worth over 60 billion euros. Beduschi emphasized the importance of transparency and fair competition in the agri-food sector, stating that it is essential to protect not only finished products but also raw materials.
The councillor highlighted the growing distress of Lombard farmers, who are forced to operate below production costs due to a loss of competitiveness. He called attention to the need to protect the entire food supply chain to ensure fair conditions for producers and to preserve the quality of local excellence. According to Beduschi, defending the agricultural system also means seriously addressing the issue of tariffs, as Italian productions are unique and non-replicable, thus representing a valuable resource to be safeguarded.
