• The name or business name and address of the food business operator • The country of origin or place of provenance • A nutrition declaration Transparency in ingredient sourcing has become an increasingly important issue for consumers and legislators. Italy has been at the forefront of a movement to require mandatory origin labeling for a wider range of products. For example, Italy has introduced national decrees requiring the indication of the origin of the wheat used in pasta and the tomatoes used in tomato products22. These measures have been the subject of legal debate at the EU level, as they can potentially create barriers to the free movement of goods within the single market. Restrictions on misleading food advertising are also a key component of consumer protection. The Italian Consumer Code prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading advertising. The Italian Advertising SelfRegulation Institute (Istituto dell’Autodisciplina Pubblicitaria - IAP) has a code of conduct that sets out specific rules for food advertising, particularly advertising aimed at children. The Italian Competition Authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato - AGCM) has the power to investigate and sanction companies that engage in misleading advertising. There have been numerous cases in which the AGCM has fined food companies for making unsubstantiated health claims or for misleading consumers about the origin or characteristics of their products23. The legal framework for food labelling and advertising is designed to empower consumers to make informed choices about the food they buy and eat. It is a constantly evolving area of law, as regulators grapple with new marketing techniques and the growing consumer demand for more information about their food. XI. ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD LAWS In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the ethical and environmental dimensions of food production and consumption. This has led 22 Decreto Interministeriale 26 luglio 2017, “Indicazione dell’origine, in etichetta, del grano duro per paste di semola di grano duro”. Decreto Legislativo 6 settembre 2005, n. 206, “Codice del consumo”. 23 See the decisions of the AGCM in cases involving food advertising, which are published on its website. 639 GASTRONOMY LAW IN ITALY
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