The 2024 report on ICQRF control activities was presented.In 2024, the Central Inspectorate for the Protection of Quality and the Repression of Fraud in Agri-food Products carried out over 54,800 checks, verifying more than 28,500 operators and over 54,000 products.
Most of the checks concerned DOP, IGP and organic products.
Almost 13 million kg of goods were seized, with a total value exceeding 22 million euros.
These results represent a concrete testimony to the efficiency of the Italian control system in protecting legality, quality and food safety.
"The complex system of controls provides an important contribution to the protection of our honest entrepreneurs and people, helping to strengthen the excellent reputation of Italian products.
A role that complements that of agronomists and forestry doctors, who are responsible for producing in a sustainable, healthy and regulatory-compliant way ", declared Felice Assenza, Head of the ICQRF Department .
"The 2024 Report is the mirror of the enormous work we do every day to protect consumers.
Among the many data available, however, I would like to highlight the 809 checks relating to unfair commercial practices, a number doubled compared to 2023.
It is an activity aimed at countering deceptive commercial practices (by action or omission) and aggressive commercial practices, aimed in particular at protecting small producers.
Among the most frequent administrative disputes we find contractual conditions (41.5%), failure to comply with payment terms (28.8%) and contractual modification. Small producers, the backbone of the Italian agri-food supply chain, thus find an ally to face the challenges of the market on equal terms".
The numbers of 2024
During the year, the ICQRF carried out 54,882 checks, broken down as follows:- 28,558 inspections at operators (production and trade)
- 54,180 product checks
- 11,571 laboratory analyses
The irregularities found were equal to 12.9% of the products and 8.6% of the samples analyzed.
Sanctions and seizures
- 161 crime reports,
- 6,136 contested administrative sanctions ,
- 2,381 injunction orders (total value: 8.6 million euros)
- 3,847 warnings issued.
Supervision of certification bodies
At the end of 2024 the following are found:- 53 authorised control bodies (33 private, 20 public),
- 893 certified IG products
- 194,387 agri-food operators and
- 94,000 organic operators subjected to inspections.
- 1,224 control and tariff plans
- 181 authorization decrees , of which 13 in the wine sector and 12 for organic.
Future prospects
Among the prospects for 2025:- Greater oversight of products from illegally deforested areas
- Strengthening the fight against online fraud
- Artificial Intelligence at the Service of the Surveillance System
- Promoting supply chain transparency and sustainability
The Control Room for Agri-food Control
Established in 2022 at MASAF at the instigation of Minister Lollobrigida, the Control Room sees the participation of ICQRF, Carabinieri for Agri-food and Forestry Protection, Carabinieri for Health Protection (NAS), Guardia di Finanza, Port Authority, AGEA, Customs Agency and recently also the Highway Police and Fire Brigade.Coordination between agencies strengthens the effectiveness of checks, focusing them on ports, customs, labeling , but also emerging sectors such as tobacco, canned goods and cereals. (Source: https://www.masaf.gov.it /)