Thousands of Italian farmers protested on Wednesday at the Italian side of the Brenner Pass, close to the border with Austria, as agriculture association Coldiretti called on a mobilization against food piracy which is causing many Italian businesses to close.
Coldiretti said unfair competition from foreign food products branded to look Italian has contributed to the demise of 136,351 farms and agricultural companies since the start of the global economic crisis in 2007.
The protest coincided with the start of a Coldiretti campaign to encourage people to buy genuine Italian food products during the holiday season, called “The Battle of Christmas, Choose Italy” (La Battaglia di Natale: Scegli l'Italia).
Led by Coldiretti President Roberto Moncalvo, the farmers stopped several trucks to ask what they were carrying and where they were headed and showed banners calling for better branding of food products, so consumers can clearly see where goods come from.
They said they uncovered mozzarellas from Germany bound for Sicily, milk from Poland bound for Brescia, German ham destined for Modena, German potatoes headed for Sicily, and more such cases - all of them labeled 'Made in Italy'.
''One in three hams declared to be Italian are from abroad'', Moncalvo said. ''We are de facto selling off a part of our national heritage, one on which we could be basing a sustainable and lasting economic recovery that would also be beneficial to the environment and to our health''.
Some 60 MPs signed a motion on Wednesday for the government to combat fraudulent labeling and protect national farms and produce. The Made in Italy label means ethical jobs and sustainable development, and is essential to remaining competitive and guaranteeing food safety, the MPs said.
The protest on Thursday moved to Rome, just outside Palazzo Montecitorio, seat of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
