Coronavirus represents a significant threat to the performance of Italian food makers in the “red zone” affected areas, according to Italy’s industry association Federalimentare.
The president of Federalimentare, Ivano Vacondio, warned in an official statement that the possible closure of Italy’s northern regions could weigh on the food sector and GDP as a whole. “The risk of a production blockade after the coronavirus alarm could impact heavily on the Italian manufacturing sector, including the food sector. Food excellence could be affected as well, damaging a whole sector that has so far proved to be resilient against the depressed trend of the rest of the economy” – Vacondio said. In fact, that is why Italian food producers from the north of Italy do not stop, and continue to work to produce and export their products despite the coronavirus.
In 2018, Lombardy and Veneto accounted for 36% of italy’s food sector, according to Federalimentare’s figures. Across the three regions – including Emilia-Romagna – regional production accounted for 52% of the sector’s total production.
ITALIAN MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE: “STANDARDIZE CONTROLS IN THE EU”
“It is essential to standardize the level of controls throughout the European Union. This is a time for responsibility and work for everyone, in the interests of citizens.” That is what the Italian Minister of Agriculture Teresa Bellanova said in a meeting with colleagues from the Italian government, regional presidents and technical staff to take stock of the coronavirus case.