Oils, starting from olive oil, are – after wine – the most controlled agri-food product in Italy. It is noted by theCentral Inspectorate for Quality Protection and Fraud Repression of agri-food products (Icqrf) which has spread i results of last year's activity: significant numbers in terms of controls, seizures and sanctions, demonstrating how the oil sector is one of the sectors most subject to the most varied frauds. An important and necessary activity, to protect the many correct operators who are penalized not only by unfair competition, but by the damage to image that certain episodes generate for the entire sector.
Increasing controls and sanctions
But let's go to the numbers. THE controls in the oil sector they were overall 8.673 (about 200 more than the previous year). They were interested 5.270 operators (against 4.741 operators in 2022), of which the 16,7% were found to be irregular (previously it had been 15,5%). Regarding the products subjected to control (9.504 compared to 8.111 in 2022), irregular it resulted the 11,9% (against 12,3%). The irregular analytical results 22,8% (compared to 14,4% the previous year).
The whole has produced 16 reports of crime, 1.163 administrative complaints, 1.250 warnings and 71 seizures (just 29 had been in 2022) for over 3 million kilos seized for a commercial value of almost 15 million euros.
Among the main proven violations: extra virgin olive oil was found to be of a lower category following chemical and/or organoleptic analysis or, worse, obtained mixed with seed oil; violations of labeling rules; the irregular use of optional indications; the failure or irregular keeping of electronic olive oil registers; the lack of or irregular indication of the geographical origin in extra virgin olive oil.
The most significant counteractions
These are the salient actions in the fight against oil fraud in 2023
June - Dismantling of an organization dedicated to the sale of seed oil colored with chlorophyll and carotenoids sold as "extra virgin olive oil - 100% Italian". Seizures were carried out both at the clandestine laboratory and at the 50 user catering establishments. In another operation in the same month, 116.232 kg of non-EU extra virgin olive oil designated with Italian origin was seized in Foggia: value of the goods €820.000.
July - As part of the Bio Oil activity, 83.400 kg of extra virgin and virgin olive oils as well as olive oils worth €420.000 were seized without any supporting documentation.
September - Investigations into the trade of seed oil colored with chlorophyll and carotenoids sold as extra virgin olive oil throughout the national territory, with labels referable to non-existent companies. The investigations, still ongoing, coordinated by various Public Prosecutor's Offices, involved and led to the collection of 20 oil samples.
October - In Campania, samples of oil declared as blends of olive oil and samples of ready-made sauces, intended for export and instead containing seed oil, were seized.
November – In Piedmont, a batch of EU extra virgin olive oil totaling 22.320 kg was seized, not justified by the company accounts and official records. Approximate value of the goods €125.000.
Also in November, at a company in the Salerno area, criminal seizure of 550.000 kg of oils declared to be olive, but which were in reality a blend of vegetable oils. The value of the seized goods is approximately €250.000. Also in the province of Salerno, samples of extra virgin olive oil and samples of vegetable oils and colored liquids used for the production of sophisticated oil were taken from a clandestine operator. The analyzes carried out by the Salerno Laboratory have ascertained the presence of seed oil in the extra virgin olive oil.
Presentation of the Report
From the 2023 Report on the activities of the Department of the Central Inspectorate for the Protection of Quality and Repression of Fraud of Agri-Food Products (Icqrf) it emerges that, overall, 2023 total, inspection and analytical checks were carried out in 54.658. The total inspection and analytical controls PDO and PGI were 15.796 and Bio 5.763. The sanctions imposed were 2.204, for an amount of 21.418.395 euros.
“I thank the men and women who work in ICQRF – said the Minister of Agriculture and Food and Forestry Sovereignty, Francesco Lollobrigida – to protect the quality of our products. Italy is the safest nation that carries out the most checks and this is also why more counterfeits emerge compared to high quality products, which are the ones we produce. I must say that our Central Inspectorate for quality control and fraud prevention is an excellence from this point of view".
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