The price paid for rice bearing the 'Made in Italy' accreditation has increased by 75% compared to last year, due to an obligation to indicate the origin of the rice on the label.
This is according to Italian farmers association Coldiretti, which strongly supported the introduction of the new labelling legislation in order to protect Italian crops.
As a result of the new law, which entered into force in February 2018, the label has to include the terms 'Paese di coltivazione del riso' (country of rice cultivation), 'Paese di lavorazione' (country of processing) and 'Paese di confezionamento' (country of packaging).
According to Coldiretti, the increase in Italian rice prices is also due to the introduction of tariffs on imports of processed and semi-processed Indica rice from Cambodia and Burma.
Coldiretti's research revealed that the price of Arborio rice increased by 70%, reaching €520 per tonne, while Selenio rice increased by 75% and reached €490 per tonne.
According to Ettore Prandini, president of Coldiretti, the next goal is to extend the tariffs to non-processed rice imports.
Italy is the main producer of rice in the EU, with 1.40 million tonnes, covering 50% of overall European production.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Alessandra Arosio. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
