The Italian government intends to apply to the European Commission with a proposal to make some changes to the process of supplying local products to the UK. The thing is that the English-speaking country recently has a special regulation that prohibits the import of products that are potentially threatening obesity.
Oil, cheese and sausage were on the list of such goods, which Italy cannot agree with. Indeed, since the new rule was introduced in June last year, the United Kingdom has banned the supply of olive oil and mozzarella - products that the Apennine Peninsula is famous for the whole world.
The Italians, seriously worried about the idea that the innovation could negatively affect not only profit but also the formation of an opinion about the country, announced their decision to insist on the cancellation of the regulation, arguing that it negatively affects the “European market, competitive conditions , the opinion of customers and the image of many brands. "
In addition to Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia and Ireland suffered from new measures. According to some sources, all these countries also plan to apply to the EU.
British medical institutions have previously advocated imposing restrictions on products that incorporate fat, sugar, and salt. These measures, according to local doctors and authorities, will significantly reduce the percentage of obesity in the population. However, Italian Minister of Health Beatrice Lorenzin said in December that “consumer intimidation is completely unacceptable,” and instead suggested that the British stick to the Mediterranean diet.
“Eat more seafood, white meat, olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, and less bread and pasta.” Lorenzi advised.
Today it also became known that More than 80 Italian farms suspend dairy production, after a high content of dioxin was discovered in the blood of animals - a dangerous toxin that negatively affects the condition of the skin and can even cause cancer. The level of dioxin in milk and cheese in 25 of 130 farms in southern Italy was higher than the norm set by EU standards, Lorenzi explained. Inspections of dairy products began after several allegations of dioxin in Italian products. The Ministry of Health insisted on the suspension of some households.
For several days, Italian authorities tried to convince buyers that nothing threatens their health and life.
“These are extremely exaggerated and baseless rumors,” said Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema yesterday.
Nevertheless, EU countries were immediately informed of the threat, and some regions of Asia temporarily cut off the supply of mozzarella.
The Coldiretti Farmers Association has confirmed that over the past few days, the percentage of dairy products sold has dropped by 60 percent, equivalent to several million dollars. In Brussels, EU Council spokeswoman Nina Papadoulaki told reporters that the European Commission is awaiting the results of testing 100 mozzarella samples. She also assured that the EU authorities reacted to the threat associated with the popular cheese variety, as serious as possible and explained that in case of positive samples for dioxin, the product would be suspended.
Some sources confirmed that the Chief Sanitary Doctor of Russia Gennady Onishchenko also gave instructions to check the cheeses in shops and restaurants in Moscow.
