Unapol welcomes with satisfaction the decision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry to extend to 2026 the entry into force of the law which imposed the delivery of olives to the mills within six hours of purchaseA provision that, although driven by the intent of strengthening traceability and production quality, would have risked penalizing thousands of olive growers operating far from the main harvesting areas, making it virtually impossible to meet such stringent deadlines.
“We thank Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and Undersecretary Giacomo Patrizio La Pietra - declares the president of Unapol, Tommaso Loiodice - for listening to the voice of the associations and for demonstrating thoughtfulness and promptness in correcting a measure that could have created serious difficulties for the entire supply chain. The extension represents an act of responsibility and common sense that protects the work of producers and mills, without sacrificing the goal of greater transparency.
“We will continue to collaborate with the Ministry – concludes Loiodice – So that, in the time remaining until the regulation comes into force, balanced and truly applicable solutions are identified, capable of reconciling the need to guarantee the quality and origin of the product with the operational needs of operators.".
Unapol thus reiterates the its commitment to supporting and promoting the Italian olive oil sector, aware that the competitiveness of the sector passes through clear, sustainable and shared rules. The extension represents aopportunity to start a constructive discussion between institutions and associations, with the aim of safeguarding the work of olive growers and guaranteeing consumers a quality, authentic, and traceable product.
