The head of Italy's national
food-and-drink association Federalimentare, Filippo Ferrua,
spoke out on Wednesday against the Lower House's approval of a
law amendment raising the minimum orange-juice content in
products from Italy labeled 'orange drink' to 20%.
Ferrua said that it was "harmful to bring in limits and
prohibitions solely for Italian producers, thereby aiding
foreign companies and damaging Italian competitiveness. It puts
thousands of jobs at risk, including those in ancillary
industries".
The head of the food industry association called the
regulation "clearly unConstitutional," saying it constituted
"counter-discrimination against Italian producers and an
unnecessary hindrance to unrestricted economic initiative," and
was "unreasonable, as it neither protects health nor food
safety".
He noted that the regulation was not justified on the basis
of health-related reasons, "as the EU Commission found when it
rejected it in previous years," and would not help agriculture,
since "there is no rule saying the supply must come from Italy".
As for consumers, "they already have a wide selection of
100% fruit juices on the market to choose from, while soon they
will no longer be able to find the flavours they have enjoyed
for years. They will instead find more calories on products made
in Italy and lower requirements and prices on those made
abroad".
Ferrua warned that the regulation might result in the
elimination of entire production lines and have serious effects
on employment.
"At a time like this," he said, "it is absurd to penalize
those doing business in Italy".
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