Green light for the indication of origin of rice: a battle of Piedmont

Green light for mandatory labeling for rice as the Region has long asked. This was announced by Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina at the rice supply chain table, meeting at the ministry to find solutions to the crisis that is affecting the sector. Giorgio Ferrero, the regional councilor for agriculture, was present at the Roman table: "It is great news, mandatory labeling is the main and necessary tool to enhance Piedmontese rice on the market which, we recall, with around 8 million quintals of annual production, represents over 50% of national production ", comments Ferrero. “Now our rice is anonymous, the market produced by other countries, including Asian ones, is sold on the market at a much lower price. We need to let the consumer recognize our rice, which for quality, cultivation techniques and products used is a true excellence. Mandatory labeling performs this function: it reveals the origin of the rice, so that consumers know what's in the rice box they buy and can choose for themselves what to buy. The labeling is a request that we have been supporting for some time and also finds the unanimous consent of the Regional Council, which on an agenda yesterday specifically requested it ”. The commissioner had already intervened in the regional council to reiterate that labeling is fundamental for any agri-food sector, for rice it is even more so for the crisis that it is experiencing and for the immobility that has crossed it for many years. That of rice is an anonymous sector, the industry buys it where it wants, and imports have increased, and the consumer buys an Italian brand believing to buy Italian rice, while it is not so with security. Labeling is not a protectionist standard, but a guarantee for the consumer and protection also for the Piedmontese producer, who would thus see his product valued and make speculation more difficult. Labeling is a path strongly opposed by industry, which speculates on a small market overproduction, reducing prices in an unjustified manner, because these prices are not reduced to consumption. But there are few actors in the rice market and they could even sign up. According to the Regional Councilor for Agriculture, the return of duties through the safeguard clause is a correct response to the emergency, which has been requested and supported, but mandatory labeling is a fundamental tool for revitalizing the sector.