The European Union has opened five new infringement procedures against Italy, which now has two months to comply and thus avoid referral to the European Court of Justice and, therefore, fines. Italy in the sights of the EU Commission for failure to comply with regulations for the trade of generic pharmaceutical products, of easier rules for company mergers e regulations on waste from the extractive industries and too timid legislation on environmental liability.
With particular reference to pharmaceutical sector, our country is asked to "apply the Community legislation relating to the authorization procedures for the marketing of generic medicines". Indeed, Brussels recognizes that our country "has not respected the deadline for the adoption of the pertinent EU amendments", and in this way "continues to fail in its obligation to adequately protect manufacturers".
On the front of the internal market Italy must "comply with the obligation to implement simplified rules on mergers and demergers" between parent companies and subsidiaries. In recalling that the deadline for implementing these provisions was 30 June 2011, the Brussels executive denounces that our country "has not respected its commitments". In doing so, companies "cannot enjoy the benefits deriving from the reduction of administrative burdens obtained thanks to the directive", reads the explanatory statement.
Sul environmental side, Italy shows "several shortcomings" in the application of the provisions on waste from the extractive industries, especially as regards the treatment of mine voids. The EU Commission, on the recommendation of the Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik, therefore asks for compliance. Still on the subject of the environment, Brussels calls on the government in Rome to make the legislation on environmental liability "stricter" on the basis of the principle of 'the polluter pays'. On the subject, the EU Commission does not hide "particular concerns regarding the lack of strict liability and the possibility left to operators to use financial compensation, rather than repair the damage".
The fifth infringement procedure has been opened for the failure to ban cages for chickens and poultry, considered harmful to animal health.
