New rules governing contractual agreements between food suppliers and major Italian retailers, due to be introduced in late October, are set to have a major impact on the way fresh produce is traded in the country, Eurofruit has learned.
During a special seminar held on the opening day of this year's Macfrut trade event in Cesena, news of the rules' introduction came to light, with participants suggesting they would contribute to an improvement in relations between big retailers and their supply partners.
From 24 October, transactions relating to the consignment of all food items made within Italy will require a written contract, otherwise they will be declared void.
Secondly, specific payment terms will have to be met, with a payment deadline of 30 or 60 days depending on the product.
Italian minister of agriculture Mario Catania said efforts to regulate contracts between suppliers and major retailers in Italy were very encouraging.
"We hold out a lot of hope for Article 62," he commented. "I can see the panorama changing: certain players in the modern retail sector are starting to think about these problems in a different way."
Domestic pride
Meanwhile, Italian farming body Coldiretti has launched a separate initiative designed to raise awareness of fruit and vegetables produced in Italy among the country's consumers.
The group unveiled a new brand, FAI (Firmata dagli Agricoltori Italiani), at a special conference held alongside Macfrut and, according to Coldiretti's president in Emilia-Romagna Mauro Tonello, will serve to campaign for better prices for its member producers.
"A supply chain which is too long and drawn out, with three or four intermediaries between the producer and the final distributor, is weighing down on the final price of our fresh produce to the detriment of the first link in the chain," he commented.
"Despite the efficiency of our members' work, we are unable to generate a corresponding added value for our companies. For that reason, we have started the Ortofrutta FAI project."
Minister Catania said the FAI brand was "interesting" but recommended also that such a trademark was not allowed to obscure other aspects of fresh fruit and vegetable quality besides simply its Italian provenance.
"FAI needs therefore to communicate also in terms of qualitative content and the guarantees that Coldiretti provides for such products."
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