Naples: Over a million illegal school supplies seized

The Guardia di Finanza conducted extensive checks at shops in the province of Naples to mark the return to school. The operation, aimed at protecting the health of consumers, especially children, led to the administrative seizure of over 1,3 million products that did not comply with the minimum quality and safety standards established by the Consumer Code.

The operation was conducted by the financial police of the Nola Group and the Ottaviano Company following a thorough local observation effort. The investigations involved several retail outlets located in the municipalities of Nola, Ottaviano, and Pollena Trocchia, where large quantities of school supplies (pens, pencils, notebooks, and accessories) and household items were available for sale on various shelves.

The irregularities found

The sealed goods were found to be completely devoid of essential transparent information for buyers. The packaging and labels lacked legally required information, including:

Identity of the manufacturer or importer

Country of origin of the goods

Composition and nature of the materials used

These details must be visible, legible, and must be expressed in Italian to ensure the traceability of the materials and guarantee that they do not contain substances or components harmful to students' health.

The value of the goods and the sanctions

The total value of the goods withdrawn from the market exceeds €130.000. The owners of the businesses involved have been notified to the competent Chamber of Commerce: each business now risks administrative fines ranging from a minimum of €516 to a maximum of €25.833.