Italy restricts use of ‘artisan’ labels to registered businesses

New Italian regulations, effective since April 7, strictly limit the use of terms such as ‘artisan’, ‘craftsmanship’, and ‘artisanal’ to businesses officially registered in the Register of Artisan Enterprises at the Chambers of Commerce. The law aims to protect consumers from misleading claims and prevent unfair competition by ensuring these terms only evoke genuine manual skill and competence.

Violations of this law carry significant penalties, including fines of up to 1% of a company's turnover, with a minimum fine of 25,000 euros per violation. While businesses not registered as artisans may still use truthful descriptions like ‘handmade’ or ‘made in our laboratory’, they are prohibited from using protected titles in signage, branding, advertising, or digital platforms.

Confartigianato estimates that approximately 850,000 irregular activities are currently operating under these terms, potentially causing confusion in sectors such as food, fashion, furniture, and automotive repair. The organization has called on regional authorities to ensure the law is effectively enforced through active monitoring and sanctions to prevent the regulation from becoming a ‘dead letter’.