Rice

Draft legislative decree laying down provisions concerning the internal rice market, implementing Article 31 of Law No 154 of 28 July 2016

The measure comprises 13 articles and 5 annexes.

The scope of application and the definitions used are set out in Article 1. The next five articles establish the classification and naming of foods; provisions guaranteeing the quality of rice placed on the market or permitted for consumption; establishing names reserved for certain traditional varieties of products and the Variety Register, listing and describing traditional varieties; for rice permitted to use collective marks, the measure allows for inclusion on packaging of the indications envisaged in the related use regulations.

Articles 7 to 10 govern controls and identify penalties, the authority responsible for their imposition and the procedures for payment of administrative penalties.

Article 11 contains the mutual recognition clause.

Articles 12 and 13 lay down temporary provisions for the packaging of rice applicable for a period of twelve months from the date of entry into force of the measure, allow for the amendment of its annexes by decree of the relevant ministries, and provide for the repeal of Law No 325 of 18 March 1958 twelve months after the date of entry into force of the new decree.

The annexes contain definitions, descriptions and specifications relating to:

Annex 1 - Definitions of product groups and qualitative characteristics.

Annex 2 - Characteristics of the varieties allowed to use the food naming referred to in Article 4(1).

Annex 3 - Register kept by the National Agency for Rice [Ente Nazionale Risi].

Annex 4 - Qualitative characteristics for rice and parboiled rice (maximum values).

Annex 5 - Methods of analysis.