Coldiretti urges €12 million aid as rice prices plunge and warns of €40 billion losses from fake Italian foods

Coldiretti says Italian rice prices have fallen by more than 50% after a 20% surge in imports, with over 190 million kg of foreign rice—four‑fifths from Asia—arriving in Italy. The drop threatens up to a 30% loss in yields in some regions and has prompted the farmers’ union to request a €12 million subsidy for 100% Italian rice, stricter origin certification, tighter import controls and a national plan to address water shortages.

The union also presented an analysis of the “Italian‑sounding” fraud market in the United States, estimating €40 billion in losses from counterfeit products that misuse Italian branding. Examples include Dutch or German pork sold as Italian ham, Chinese tomato concentrate relabelled as Italian passata, Tunisian olives marketed as extra‑virgin olive oil, and German or Polish milk used to produce mozzarella with Italian flags. Coldiretti warns the practice jeopardises farmer incomes, consumer health and Italy’s export reputation.