Italy

No agreement yet · Strong coverage · Compiled 2026-07-05

74 screening rules

Labeling: 33 rules — 25 blocking, 6 conditional, 2 advisory
Additives: 8 rules — 6 blocking, 0 conditional, 2 advisory
Contaminants & residue limits: 17 rules — 16 blocking, 0 conditional, 1 advisory
Import & registration: 16 rules — 7 blocking, 9 conditional, 0 advisory

Market profile

Main food law: EU 178/2002 (shared)
Labeling regulation: EU 1169/2011 (shared); D.Lgs 231/2017
Additives and residue limits: EU 1333/2008 + 2023/915 (shared)
Import requirements: Min. Salute USMAF portal (HTML)
National standards body: UNI — paywalled
Latest USDA FAIRS report: 2025

Certificates required

Set at EU level — the same list applies in every member state.

Health certificate (food export, fit for human consumption) — Mandatory (Applies to: Composite products, food of non-animal origin under Reg. 2019/1793 (e.g. aflatoxin-risk nuts, spices))
Veterinary health certificate (products of animal origin) — Mandatory (Applies to: Products of animal origin from EU-listed countries & establishments)
Phytosanitary certificate (IPPC / ePhyto) — Mandatory (Applies to: Plants & plant products listed in Reg. 2019/2072)
EU TRACES CHED (Common Health Entry Document) — Mandatory (Applies to: Animals, POAO, FNAO under increased checks, plants)
EU organic certificate (Reg. (EU) 2018/848) & e-COI — Mandatory (Applies to: Products labelled organic)
EUR.1 / EUR-MED movement certificate — Mandatory (Applies to: Goods claiming FTA preference)
GSP Form A / REX statement on origin — Mandatory (Applies to: GSP beneficiary goods claiming preference)
Certificate of analysis (CoA) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Products under increased official controls (aflatoxin, pesticides, ethylene oxide))
BRCGS Food Safety — Commonly requested (Applies to: Retail private label)
IFS Food — Commonly requested (Applies to: German/French/Italian retail)
FSSC 22000 — Commonly requested (Applies to: Manufacturers & ingredients)
GLOBALG.A.P. IFA — Commonly requested (Applies to: Fresh produce & aquaculture)
Rainforest Alliance certificate — Commonly requested (Applies to: Cocoa, coffee, tea, bananas)
Fairtrade certificate — Commonly requested (Applies to: Coffee, cocoa, bananas, sugar)
MSC Chain of Custody (and fishery) certificate — Commonly requested (Applies to: Wild seafood)
ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Farmed seafood)
SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Retail suppliers)
V-Label (vegan/vegetarian) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Vegan/vegetarian claims)

Import and export

Documents to import

Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory (practice; required at BCP document check)
Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
EORI number — Issued by: Customs authority of the Member State (ADM) — Mandatory
Customs import declaration (release for free circulation, H1) — Issued by: Importer / customs representative — Mandatory
Common Health Entry Document - CHED-P (products of animal origin) — Issued by: Operator completes Part I; BCP (Ministry of Health PCF / USMAF-SASN; ASL) validates Part II — Conditional (animal-origin products)
Official health certificate (EU model certificate, Reg 2020/2235) — Issued by: Competent authority of exporting third country — Conditional (animal-origin products)
CHED-D (food/feed of non-animal origin) + official certificate and lab results — Issued by: Operator / BCP; certificate by exporting-country authority — Conditional (listed goods/origins)
Phytosanitary certificate + CHED-PP — Issued by: NPPO of exporting country; BCP validates CHED-PP — Conditional
Proof of preferential origin (statement on origin / REX, EUR.1) or certificate of origin — Issued by: Exporter / exporting-country authority — Conditional

Documents to export

Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory (practice)
Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
EORI number — Issued by: Customs authority — Mandatory
Certificate of analysis / lab report — Issued by: Accredited laboratory — Conditional
Halal certificate — Issued by: Private halal certification body (no government issuer) — Conditional

Government fees

VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — 4-10%
Border control post official control fee - products of animal origin (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
BCP fee - transit/transhipment consignments (Import) — 30 EUR
Plant health controls - documentary/identity checks (Import) — 7-14 EUR
EORI registration (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
Customs processing / service fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
Export health/veterinary certificate fee (Export) — Not confirmed — check with the authority

Customs single window: ADM - AIDA / Sportello Unico Doganale e dei Controlli (SUDOCO)

Customs duties are not included.

A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.

Official sources

USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Italy (2025) (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Annual Country Report — Italy (2023) (2023) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — European Union (2024) (2024) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report — European Union (2025) (2025) Open the source
D.Lgs. 15 dicembre 2017, n. 231 — disciplina sanzionatoria Reg (UE) 1169/2011 (Normattiva) (2017) Open the source
Ministero della Salute — importazione alimenti (USMAF-SASN portal) (2026) Open the source

Sources of the rules inherited from the European Union (shared bloc rules)

Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 — General Food Law (consolidated 2026-01-01) (2002) Open the source
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 — Food Information to Consumers (consolidated 2025-04-01) (2011) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 — Food Additives (consolidated 2026-02-18, incl. Annex II union list) (2008) Open the source
Regulation (EU) 2023/915 — Maximum Levels for Contaminants in Food (consolidated 2025-10-08) (2023) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 — Hygiene of Foodstuffs (consolidated 2021-03-24) (2004) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 — Hygiene Rules for Food of Animal Origin (consolidated 2026-01-27) (2004) Open the source
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 — Official Controls (consolidated 2025-01-05) (2017) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 — Food Contact Materials (consolidated 2021-03-27) (2004) Open the source
Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 — Novel Foods (2015) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 — Pesticide MRLs in Food and Feed (2005) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 — GM Food and Feed (2003) Open the source
Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 — Nutrition and Health Claims (2006) Open the source
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 — Model Official Certificates (animal-origin/composite imports) (2020) Open the source
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/630 — Composite Products Exempt from Border Controls (2021) Open the source
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/775 — Origin of the Primary Ingredient (Art 26(3) FIC) (2018) Open the source
EU Food Additives Database (Annex II Reg 1333/2008, searchable) (2026) Open the source
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 — Temporary Increase of Controls on Certain High-Risk Non-Animal Foods (2019) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — European Union (2024) (2024) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report — European Union (2025) (2025) Open the source

Reference documents

USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Italy (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report — European Union (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — European Union (2024) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Annual Country Report — Italy (2023) Open the source
D.Lgs. 231/2017 — sanctions for Reg. 1169/2011 violations (2017) Open the source
Ministero della Salute — importazione alimenti (USMAF) (current) Open the source
UNI standards

Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.

Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.