AssoBio and FederBio defend true organic products: scams harm everyone, stopping them is crucial.

In response to the recent incident that, as part of the "Ape Pulita" operation, led to the seizure of 50 tons of honey and 12 tons of sugar in the Chieti area, falsely declared as organic, FederBio and AssoBio strongly reiterate their commitment to fighting fraud in the organic sector, to protect honest producers, consumers, and the entire supply chain.

The two associations thank the Environmental, Agri-food and Forestry Police Investigative Unit (NIPAAF) of Chieti and the Carabinieri Forestry Unit of Villa Santa Maria, who uncovered the serious irregularities in the illicit use of organic certifications and seized the counterfeit products.

Food fraud poses a serious threat to the credibility of the rapidly growing organic sector, which is worth over €10 billion in domestic and export revenues and is supported by consumers increasingly concerned about sustainability and ecosystem protection.

"We firmly condemn the fake organic honey fraud discovered in Abruzzo ," stated Nicoletta Maffini, President of AssoBio . " As we have done in the past with other fraud cases, we reiterate that such behavior seriously harms honest producers and undermines consumer confidence in organic products. Once again, we emphasize the urgency of introducing the Italian Organic Label, which is essential for ensuring the recognition and promotion of national organic products. At the same time, we believe it is important to strengthen control systems through the use of advanced digital technologies, capable of ensuring complete, transparent, and continuous traceability even in the most complex supply chains."

" We have always been at the forefront in reporting risky situations to the competent authorities," emphasizes Maria Grazia Mammuccini, President of FederBio. " Illegal agri-food practices represent a form of unfair competition that harms all serious and honest producers who invest with conviction in organic products. Stopping fraud is also a responsibility towards citizens who are increasingly choosing organic foods for their health and environmental protection. This is why we must focus on innovation, including in control systems. Concrete help will come from the imminent introduction of the Italian Organic Mark, a tool that will allow the immediate identification of organic products made with raw materials grown exclusively in Italy, thus enhancing their identity and connection to the local area."