Last Dec. 9, more than 263 tons of vegetable seeds with fake Made in Italy references were seized as part of an operation called “Via dei semi” conducted by the Guardia di Finanza in Turin and Piacenza, with an estimated value of more than 38 million euros.
The operation revealed how seeds from countries such as China, India, Hungary and Tanzania were deceptively packaged, exploiting the prestige of Made in Italy to attract consumers.
The consequences of this fraud affect both consumers, who are victims of unfair business practices that are potentially harmful to their health, and producers, whose competitiveness is jeopardized by products that do not meet the promised characteristics.
As the holiday season approaches, the trade in cheap fake Italian products increases significantly. Lombardy is the Italian region most affected by the Italian Sounding phenomenon, with a negative economic impact estimated at 10.2 billion euros per year. It is followed by Veneto with losses of 10 billion euros, while Emilia-Romagna suffers a loss of 9.9 billion euros.
Imitation of Italian products abroad has also hampered Piedmont’s international sales, which could have generated nearly 8.7 billion euros. Campania suffered losses estimated at 5.5 billion euros, while Tuscany, with a loss of 3.5 billion euros, was affected mainly by counterfeiting of its extra virgin olive oils and wines.
Trentino-Alto Adige, with an economic impact of 3.3 billion euros, is affected more than Puglia, where imitations of oil and agricultural products cause losses of 2.8 billion euros. In Sicily, the economic damage amounts to 1.7 billion euros, while Friuli Venezia Giulia registers an impact of 1.6 billion, mainly related to counterfeit hams.
In addition, the impact of Italian Sounding on the rest of the Italian regions is estimated at a total of 6.3 billion euros in 2023. (*)
ITA0039 by ASACERT establishes itself internationally as a point of reference in the protection and enhancement of the true Italian food heritage. Since 2019, it has been working on a daily basis to certify the excellence of Italian products, collaborating with partners such as Coldiretti and Euro-Toques, and with a selected network of Italian restaurants abroad, ensuring that only authentic Made in Italy excellence gets the recognition it deserves.
ITA0039’s efforts are also directed at countering the phenomenon of Italian Sounding by spreading awareness and information among consumers everywhere. The ITA0039 App is an innovative tool that allows consumers to identify real Italian products on international shelves, avoiding imitations and counterfeits.
ITA0039 is not limited to certification, but carries out an intense activity of cultural awareness and promotion, contributing every day to the protection and enhancement of Made in Italy in the world.
*Source: The European House Ambrosetti
