Italy cracks down on olive oil fraud with new controls led by Minister Lollobrigida

Italian authorities seized more than 60 tonnes of Tunisian olive oil in Palermo that had been fraudulently labelled as extra‑virgin, a case that could have yielded about €325 000 in illegal profit. Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Francesco Lollobrigida used the operation to signal a “zero‑tolerance” stance and announced imminent changes to the blending circular that will forbid mixing virgin and extra‑virgin olive oil.

Cold​iretti and the agrifood association Unaprol welcomed the minister’s proposal, urging the adoption of high‑tech analytical methods such as magnetic resonance, genetic mapping and isotopic tracing to trace oil origins and support prosecutions. The sector has seen a 50 % drop in extra‑virgin oil prices while growers face cost increases of over €200 per hectare.

The government’s new operational plan for inspections, coordinated among the Carabinieri Forestali, Guardia di Finanza, port authorities and customs, targets critical points in the supply chain – mills, depots, imports and retail. Over the past three years Italy has allocated €1.8 billion to the olive‑oil sector, aiming to reinforce production, improve traceability and protect the Made‑in‑Italy brand. Related initiatives include calls for updated legislation, stronger sanctions, and broader promotion of traditional agri‑food products as strategic national assets.