Assocalzaturifici promotes collecting signatures in manufacturing areas to support the question of security of European products also in view of the semester of Italian presidency

Assocalzaturifici seeks to mobilize the Italian footwear areas to collect signatures in favour of the appeal which the Association itself has made to the Government to use its power in Europe to establish the community Regulation concerning safety of products through compulsory indications of provenance.

Italian manufacture cannot wait any longer – explained Assocalzaturifici president Cleto Sagripanti – it has already been sorely tried for years by aggressive competition from emerging countries and lack of legislation in Europe, the only one among the world’s major economies not to request compulsory indication of origin on merchandise marketed internally, with grave damage to those, like Italian manufacturers, whose main resource is the high quality of their products

Discussions of Article 7 of the European Regulation on safety of products, which foresees compulsory indications of origin on all goods destined for consumers on the community market, is in fact beginning a decisive stage. The proposal, supported by the European Parliament and Commission, is of vital importance for firms and for the future of Italian manufacture.

In latter years Assocalzaturifici has kept up a constant pressure on European institutions and now that the discussion in Europe is entering a crucial phase there is even more need for Government help, also in view of the semester of Italian presidency that starts in July. At present Council negotiations are in progress to find a compromise that could further an agreement between the Institutions without which, to get approval within the end of the European Legislation of the package which includes the proposal, the European Parliament could soon vote in a plenary session.

If in that case the Assembly should confirm the vote of relative Commissions and the Council doesn’t find a compromise very quickly, the dossier could be passed to the next presidency, that of Italy. Therefore the role of the Italian Government in this matter becomes ever more decisive, which president Letta has already spoken about at the European headquarters, emphasizing its vital importance. Introduction of ruling that makes indication of origin for footwear obligatory in the EU would – according to Assocalzaturifici forecasts – benefit the whole sector to the tune of a 30% increment over current production levels.