Over 18 tons of olive oil falsely declared "extra virgin" were seized in the commercial port of Salerno as part of import and export controls.
The operation was conducted by the staff of the Customs and Monopolies Agency Campania 2 – Salerno Office, in collaboration with the military of the Guardia di Finanza and the Carabinieri of the Agri-food Protection Department.
The activity is part of the monitoring plan promoted by the "Control Room" established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, aimed at combating fraud and irregularities in the olive oil sector.
A container containing oil with a market value of 80 euros was seized.
During the investigation, a container containing 18.100 kilograms of olive oil, with an estimated market value of approximately €80, was seized as evidence. The shipment, destined for the Canadian market, was found to be suspicious following the activation of a specific "risk profile."
The competent Public Prosecutor's Office subsequently validated the seizure.
The analysis: it was not extra virgin
The investigations, supported by laboratory analyses, established that the oil, labeled and billed as "extra virgin," was actually "virgin" olive oil, and therefore of lower quality than declared in the commercial documentation.
For this reason, the owner of an olive oil company based in Abruzzo was reported for fraud in commercial practice, the sale of industrial products with false markings, and ideological forgery committed by a private individual in a public document, by misleading a public official.
Irregularities also in the origin of the product
Further irregularities emerged regarding the indication of the oil's origin. The packaging stated "EU origin," but the product was found to be made from a blend of oils from both EU and non-EU countries. This violation resulted in an administrative fine of €4.000.
The operation confirms the authorities' focus on the agri-food sector and compliance with regulations protecting consumers and Made in Italy products.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
It's important that seizures like this are made because it helps maintain the quality of olive oil. However, I wonder if there are other measures in place to prevent fraud in the sector, because these things shouldn't happen.