Exporting Food Products to Italy

The Italian food sector is governed by European Union rules and regulations. Italy also applies a value added tax on most food items that ranges from 4% for semi-processed commodities to 20% for luxury high value food items. To prevent unexpected import delays, U.S. exporters should work closely with Italian importers to ensure compliance with Italian food safety, quality and labeling rules and regulations. U.S. food and agriculture products imported into one EU-member can be transhipped unimpeded into Italy provided it has a label written in Italian and the product does not present a risk to human or animal health. Food products imported directly into Italy must comply with all Italian food safety regulations, quality standards and national labeling and packaging regulations that are as strict as, or sometimes a little stricter than EU rules and regulations. Food labeling and ingredient regulations have been harmonized within the EU for the most part. Italy sets its own national requirements where EU standards are not yet established.

For more information on product trade restrictions, food standards and regulations, please refer to post FAIRS gain report IT4014 and the EU FAIRS gain report E34054.