“We welcome the Italian government’s enterprise initiative which sets out a response to the restrictive measures introduced by the Australian authorities against prepared or preserved tomatoes exported from Italy.” Davide Vernocchi, president of the fruit and vegetables sector at Fedagri-Confcooperative, has declared in response to the government initiative announced by the deputy minister for economic development, Carlo Calenda.
Australia represents a historic and important extra-European market for companies in the pulped and peeled fruits and vegetables sector, with significant growth prospects (thanks also to the large numbers of immigrants of Italian origin in the country). Over the course of 2013 exports amounted to 45,000 tons.
“Some of our most active primary associated cooperatives in these markets have also launched similar legal initiatives in recent weeks,” continued Vernocchi. “We hope that the appeal launched by the Italian government will lead, within a short space of time, to a positive solution to the problem, lifting the tariff barriers that are penalising Italian companies in the sector”.