Competent authorities for food hygiene in Italy

The official-controls framework

The framework is European: Reg. (EU) 2017/625 lays down the rules for official controls along the whole agri-food chain Article 1 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and requires Member States to designate the responsible competent authorities Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625. This regulation repealed Reg. (EC) 854/2004 and 882/2004 Article 146 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625: citing them as being in force is a recurring error. Controls also verify businesses' HACCP self-checking procedures Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004. What to expect during an inspection is described in the obligation Article 6 of Reg. 852/2004.

In Italy the organisation reflects the division of powers between the State, the Regions and the health authorities described on the Italy page. The bodies and their roles follow.

Ministry of Health

It is the central competent authority for food safety. It coordinates the control system, handles relations with the European Commission and EFSA, manages alerts (RASFF) and issues guidance. Its field offices — the Border Control Posts (PCF/PIF) and the Maritime, Air and Border Health Offices (USMAF) — are competent for import controls. The Ministry does not normally carry out first-line controls on premises: those fall to the ASL. Official site: salute.gov.it.

ASL/ATS — Prevention Departments

They are the operational competent authority. In each Local Health Authority (called ATS in some Regions) the Prevention Department carries out territorial controls through two main branches:

• the SIAN (Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service), competent for food of non-animal origin, catering and retail;
• the veterinary services (hygiene of food of animal origin, animal health, livestock hygiene), competent for meat, milk, fishery products and establishments approved under Reg. (EC) 853/2004 Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

The ASL receive the health SCIAs forwarded by the SUAP (see registration and health SCIA), carry out inspections, sampling and audits, and enforce breaches by applying the penalties of Decree 193/2007 Article 6 of Italian Legislative Decree No 193/2007. In our view this is the interlocutor with whom the operator has, in practice, the most frequent relationship.

Carabinieri Command for Health Protection (NAS)

The NAS (Anti-adulteration and Health Units) are a specialised unit of the Carabinieri that reports functionally to the Ministry of Health. They operate nationwide with judicial and administrative police powers: inspections, seizures, investigations into fraud and adulteration, and unannounced checks on premises. They often act on an urgent basis and in criminal investigations. Official site: carabinieri.it.

ICQRF — fraud repression inspectorate

The Central Inspectorate for Quality Protection and Fraud Repression (ICQRF) is a department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF). It oversees commercial quality, labelling, designations of origin and commercial fraud of agri-food products. Its scope is distinct from the health remit of the ASL: the ICQRF protects the consumer in terms of genuineness and commercial fairness, not hygiene in the strict sense. Official site: masaf.gov.it.

How they coordinate

The various bodies do not overlap at random: 2017/625 requires cooperation and coordination between competent authorities where responsibility is divided Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625. In practice the ASL, NAS and ICQRF exchange information and may act jointly; front-line health responsibility, however, remains with the ASL, under the coordination of the Ministry of Health.