The Italian financial police (Guardia di Finanza) and the control authority ICQRF have seized around 2.5 million liters of wine that were falsely declared as DOP and IGP. The total value of the seized goods amounts to more than four million euros. As part of the investigations, 24 individuals were reported or referred to the relevant administrative authorities.

The investigation, operating under the name "Vinum Mentitum," began in 2024 and was conducted nationwide. It is part of increased controls in the agricultural and food sector, for which the Italian Parliament recently passed new criminal offenses.

The investigations focused on the unlawful marketing of quality wine, the use of grapes and musts that do not comply with production regulations, as well as the false indication of the origin of raw materials that did not come from the certified cultivation areas.

The authorities found numerous discrepancies between the actual stock levels and the data recorded in the digital register SIAN. As a result, 59 administrative violations were reported, leading to fines totaling around 410,000 euros. Additionally, eleven warnings were issued for rectifiable violations.

In addition to product-specific controls, tax irregularities were also uncovered. Documents for taxable transactions worth over 280,000 euros were missing, and VAT amounting to around 800,000 euros was not paid. Furthermore, investigators found violations in the area of undeclared work as well as irregularities in wine taxes.

Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida stated that the state would not tolerate unfair competition through forged documents. Protecting the "Made in Italy" brand also means ensuring the work of honest producers and the quality of Italian appellations.

(ru – Image: 123rf)

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