FLORENCE, ITALY – The European Parliament in Strasbourg gave its final approval to a package of aid to Tunisia, including a controversial regulation that will permit the importation of an additional 35,000 tonnes of Tunisian olive oil to the EU without duties. The Tuscan farmers are angered with this decision.
The Coldiretti association said on Friday March 11, 2016 that the real risk is now the proliferation of fraud. Tuscany is considered the classic olive oil region of Italy by many. The oils of Lucca and the Chianti regions of Toscana are best known. The oils produced.
The package, voted on March 10, 2016 with 500 in favour, 107 against and 42 abstentions, has prompted concern in some quarters, especially among Italian farmers fearing the impact it will have on prices and their livelihoods. Premier Matteo Renzi’s government is not in favour either.
“The new quota – Farmer’s association Coldiretti said – would be added to the current 56,700 tonnes duty-free already envisaged under the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement, bringing total duty-free imports of olive oil to over 90,000 tonnes per year, virtually the entire amount exported to Italy by the African country. The real risk is the proliferation of fraud. Imported olive oils are often mixed with Italian products in order to give them a semblance of Italianness with the detriment of Italian producers and consumers.”
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