“The spotlight is on in Puglia on the 'downward' strategy of oil prices have dropped by 27% in one year, with frauds always being discovered too late, which is why stronger rules are needed to prevent speculation from taking shape and taking away value from the sector." Denouncing the speculative scenario that is affecting the world of oil is Coldiretti Puglia, when the olive oil campaign has just begun, for which they are needed measures to strengthen traceability and control systems, also taking into account the serious production imbalances and the increase in international prices of extra virgin olive oil that have characterised the last year.
“The entire Mediterranean basin is registering an increase in production – insists Coldiretti Puglia – This has paved the way for speculative maneuvers that are observed every year. Italy, despite being the only country with a complete traceability system for olive oil, remains unprotected when it comes to olives, for which there is still no requirement to record movements combined with the producer's company file. Hence the proposal to extend the SIAN to the European level, to ensure uniform, real-time controls across the entire supply chain.
Another critical point concerns the 'active processing traffic', which allows for subsidized imports of oil during the national harvest. "It's unclear why we should import when we don't yet know the level of domestic production. Delaying the start of imports would be a sensible measure to avoid market distortions.", presses Alfonso Cavallo, president of Coldiretti Puglia, in proposing "to introduce the electronic transport document for olives, as required by Law 206/2023 on traceability, and to reduce the time required to classify oils to ensure greater transparency".
"Speculation in the countryside must also be uncovered at retail outlets. A bottle of oil sold on the shelves of large retailers for even €5 cannot possibly contain extra virgin olive oil, because those prices don't even cover production costs. Made-in-Italy extra virgin olive oil cannot be sold for €8-9 per liter or more." adds Pietro Piccioni, director of Coldiretti Puglia, in emphasizing that "You need to look more carefully at the labels, buy oils that explicitly state that they are made from 100% Italian olives and that the harvest season is indicated, or buy directly from olive oil companies and millers that make traceability a key aspect of their business."
But there is also little clarity in restaurants where the regulations in force should be enforced in a situation where in the premises – concludes Coldiretti Puglia – 1 in 4 oil containers (22%) that do not comply with the anti-refill cap requirement, which came into force with Law 30 October 2014, n. 161 which also provides for sanctions and confiscation of the product, is illegal”.
