Assomela
Through the Board of Directors and monthly Market Committee meetings, along with working groups on organic apple production in Italy and in Europe, Assomela keeps the members updated on the activities of the Association following the mission: • To represent the interests of the members at national and European level, creating common positions on shared interests; • To maintain institutional relations at national and international levels monitoring the development of legislations that could have impact on the sector; • To coordinate and implement promotion programmes co-financed by the European Union; • To promote and sustain the opening of new markets and follow export-related issues; • To coordinate projects in the research, innovation and technical assistance sectors for a sustainable environmental performance; • To collect and organize production, sales and consumption statistics in close collaboration with the member cooperatives and external organisations.
ID: 572089747088-13
Lobbying Activity
Response to Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus
12 Oct 2025
1. Revisione delle attuali competenze nazionali con una visione più europea del quadro normativo delle autorizzazioni sia per le sostanze attive che in particolare per i formulati commerciali; 2. Profonda revisione del sistema delle autorizzazioni zonali, con un obiettivo di approvazione immediata e definitiva a livello Europeo a conclusione delliter di valutazione per lapprovazione, la riapprovazione, lestensione di uso o luso eccezionale di una s.a. e del relativo prodotto commerciale; 3. Inserimento delle nuove tecniche e nuove tecnologie come fattori di prevenzione dei rischi connessi allimpiego di fitosanitari. Nuove macchine, nuovi strumenti di supporto alla decisione ed equilibrate limitazioni di impiego (es. buffer zone) rappresentano un passaggio strutturale ed indispensabile nelle procedure valutative, per migliorare le condizioni di impiego da un lato, conservare un toolbox più ampio di fitosanitari disponibili ed infine, stimolare il processo di innovazione ed ammodernamento del parco macchine in agricoltura; 4. Creazione di una procedura fast track per lautorizzazione di s.a. basso rischio o di matrice biologica; 5. Ampliamento della stima comparativa (comparative assesment) oggi limitato alle sole sostanze attive candidate alla sostituzione; 6. Chiara attenzione allefficacia ed efficienza delle s.a. alternative, che dovranno assicurare una uguale o superiore capacità di controllo delle patologie di riferimento. Tale impostazione deve valere anche per le nuove molecole a basso rischio o bio-pesticidi; 7. Stima di impatto economico nel caso di ritiro di s.a. che potrebbero esporre il settore a danni qualitativi e quantitativi inaccettabili; 8. Coinvolgimento obbligatorio nel processo di valutazione di esperti indicati dal settore agricolo primario. Il contributo di conoscenza ed esperienza pratica rappresentato dagli operatori può utilmente contribuire a trovare soluzioni avanzate ma compatibili con le esigenze del settore; 9. Previsione di un sistema di adeguamento al nuovo quadro normativo, con indicazione di un periodo di moratoria sufficiente per prevenire ulteriori limitazioni basate su standard e procedure in via di revisione. Il processo di adattamento della legislazione e di piena funzionalità del nuovo sistema richiederà un certo arco di tempo. Per favorire una transizione adeguata e progressiva verso tale nuovo sistema, senza penalizzare ulteriormente i produttori, si suggerisce un periodo di moratoria di 5 anni, nel corso del quale i processi di revisione delle sostanze attive dovranno essere sospesi o adeguati in base alle innovazioni tecniche ed alle effettive e concrete conoscenze medico-scientifiche. 10. Nel definire un nuovo limite massimo di residuo, tenere in considerazione un periodo di adeguamento, nonche' le ripercussioni economiche di questa modifica. 11. Supportare le innovazioni tecnologiche dei nuovi macchinari agricoli, macchine di precisione e droni. 12. posticipare l'entrata in vigore del regolamento di attuazione 2023/564 di 5 anni per permettere al settore produttivo di adeguarsi dal punto di vista infrastrutturale, e per una vera armonizzazione a livello europeo.
Read full responseResponse to Verification of carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products
27 Jun 2025
The Italian Association of Apple Producers, Assomela, supports the initiative to establish rules on certification schemes, certification bodies and audits for carbon farming activities. The proposed regulations play a crucial role in ensuring the credibility and accuracy of carbon neutrality claims. However, there is a significant risk that the certification rules for carbon farming could lead to substantial costs and associated administrative burden for the farmers related to the certification procedure including certification audit, re-certification audit and surveillance audit. To address this, it is essential to work towards greater simplification and harmonisation of the procedures, especially since most carbon farming activities are expected to be carried out by small-scale farmers. Rules and methodologies should be easily accessible and governed at Producer Organisation level, rather than at the level of individual farms. In this regard, we welcome Article 12, "Group auditing for carbon farming. However, more details are needed on the procedure, since the current proposal states that audits for group certifications are to be conducted on a random sample representing at least 25% of group members and the members selected for the group audit should vary from year to year. It may be more efficient if the group manager, represented by the quality department of a Producer Organisation, could be referred to during on-site audits, avoiding the involvement of single farmers. Moreover, we believe it is necessary to further clarify the criterion of the "geographical proximity", which is listed among the conditions for members applying for a group certificate. In conclusion, Assomela supports a credible and transparent certification system for carbon farming activities, recognizing its strategic value in the transition toward more sustainable agricultural practices. At the same time, it is crucial to ensure that such systems remain accessible and feasible for the producers. Simplifying procedures, promoting collective approaches, and providing greater clarity on application criteria are essential steps to encourage broad participation and ensure the success of the initiative.
Read full responseMeeting with Stefano Bonaccini (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)
5 Jun 2025 · Meeting With Confcooperative e Assomela
Meeting with Herbert Dorfmann (Member of the European Parliament)
15 May 2025 · Future perspectives for fruit industries in Europe
Meeting with Roberto Vannacci (Member of the European Parliament)
30 Jan 2025 · Presentazione Assomela e prodotti fitosanitari
Meeting with Stefano Cavedagna (Member of the European Parliament)
28 Jan 2025 · Introductory meeting - discussion about the next legislative proposals
Meeting with Elisabetta Gualmini (Member of the European Parliament)
12 Sept 2024 · AGRI Committee
Meeting with Herbert Dorfmann (Member of the European Parliament)
12 Sept 2024 · Exchange of views on apple production and promotion
Response to Review of the requirements for packaging and feasibility of measures to prevent packaging waste
20 Apr 2023
Assomela, the Italian association of apple producers, supports the efforts to harmonize the packaging market in Europe and supports the will to increase sustainable packaging solutions. The Italian apples sector is highly concerned about the discriminative targeting of the fresh produce sector in Article 22, Annex V, point 2 and the possible consequences this could have in terms of food safety, information transparency and food waste. Assomela calls for the European institutions to reconsider the ban on packaging for fresh produce studying the effects this could have for the sector and to establish a reasonable timeline which permits to the sector to ensure transparency and no major discriminations in the market. The Italian apples sector has made huge efforts in the last years in finding and using innovative solutions for packaging in terms of materials and designs. The sector welcomes the initiative to move towards sustainable packaging solutions, however it is highly concerned on the discriminative approach used for the F&V sector, specifically targeted in art. 22 annex V, point 2. The requests to the sector and to a specific product category are disproportionate if compared to the general objective of the proposed regulation which is to reduce the environmental impact of packaging. The fact that part of the F&V and apples therefore are sold in bulk, does not mean that everything could be sold without packaging. Moreover, if the EU wants to reduce food waste and enhance the consumption of F&V, these requests really dont help the EU the reach the fixed goals. For these reasons, Assomela highlights the need to have a detailed and complete assessment on the impact of the proposed changes. Considering that the plastic packaging represents only around 1,5% of all plastic packaging used in retail, a ban covering specifically the sector is disproportionate. In the apples sector packaging is highly functional for a series of different reasons: - Product transportation and Product containment for effective and efficient operations and logistics from the warehouses to the retailers products should be well contained. Standard plastic and paper boxes and palettes are just an example of sustainable and cost-efficient packaging. - Protection of the product apples are very perishable (especially certain varieties) and they must be protected in every single step of the supply chain to be at the point of sales in good condition to the consumers. The packaging also avoids microbiological contamination and maintains hygiene. This function of packaging has been highly recognized by the consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic in fact, the sales of packaged apples and F&V increased. - Extend product shelf life - Packaging extends the shelf life of apples and avoid bruises. - Prevent food waste avoiding bruises packaging helps in preventing food waste. - Communication and information to the consumers Packaging offers to the sector possibilities to communicate to both supply chain actors and consumers with obligatory and essential product information. Information is given by a large variety of packaging from paper-based palettes, to containers, wrappers and small labels. Legally obligatory information includes but is not limited to variety, traceability, country of origin, organic distinction from conventional products and fraud detection. Essential information for the benefit of trade and consumers includes among others color, branding, PLU codes, barcodes, quality, storage and/or preparation messages (for example ready to eat). ... Please see enclosed document for the complete position.
Read full responseResponse to Carbon Removal Certification
17 Mar 2023
Assomela, the Italian Association of Apple Producers, welcomes the possibility to comment on the proposal for a regulation on carbon removal certifications. The Italian apple sector works actively on monitoring the carbon footprint of the productions with the goal to apply agronomic techniques and measures that increase the sustainable performance of the cultivations, either by increasing the capacity to store carbon in the field or by decreasing the emissions from a more efficient energy consumption. Carbon farming, as presented by the proposal of regulation on carbon removal certifications, would therefore consist in an additional form of income to our producers, given the already present investments on the topic. Yet, despite the possible economic opportunities that could arise, we wish to provide some observations concerning the proposed regulation. If Europe shall succeed in removing hundreds of millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide within 2050 it is necessary to invest resources in efficient scientifically proven industrial solutions. Still, the proposed regulation does not offer concrete examples of methods for how to proceed in practice. Technological advances would also require important financial contributions to enable increased carbon storage measurements. Furthermore, the proposal of regulation ignores the problem of different durations of sequestrations, where some sequestrations likely are temporary, and thus require a different formula of certification specifications and subsequent buyer obligations. There are also many practical questions that should be solved: How to physically remove carbon from the atmosphere? How to permanently store carbon removed from the atmosphere? In what way could nature-based carbon storage be guaranteed over longer times as nature/plants/soils are highly susceptible to climate change events? There may also be natural limits for the capacity of soils to fix organic carbon. Although there are many practical questions yet to answer and although incentives are necessary for such application of the certification, it is important to understand the priorities and avoid risks of green washing: focusing excessively on devising certifications and on the buyers within a market for carbon removals may divert attention and resources from actors which responsibly take concrete actions to reduce emissions. Moreover, the proposed regulation does not apply any conditions on acquiring certified carbon sequestrations, such as proof of measures to reduce emissions. It is important to emphasise that priority should remain on emission reductions and that carbon removals represent a complementary measure. Furthermore, the proposal of regulation does not add clarification on details on the prices for the carbon credits, and the mechanisms controlling the pricing. In the present voluntary carbon market prices may vary from 3 to 20 euro per tons of sequestered carbon and the expectation of the proposed regulation was to obtain clarity on the matter. Precise regulation of such is essential both for the single market as well as for the regulations on how third country sales of certified carbon sequestrations will be handled. As it is now, it is possible that purchasers will look to pay the lowest possible price for credits which could be exploited by operators in third countries to generate revenue. In conclusion, the draft regulation lacks several details and is presented to the stakeholders at a very premature stage- presumably too far ahead from the actual implementation. Certified carbon sequestrations should accompany concrete measures and investments to reduce emissions and permitted technologies must be clearly defined. It is of highest importance that the regulatory framework will be based on definitions and methods, as well as on a verified and frequent monitoring work.
Read full responseResponse to Sustainable use of pesticides – revision of the EU rules
15 Sept 2022
Assomela, the Italian Association of Apple Producers, welcomes the possibility to comment on the draft proposed regulation updating rules for the sustainable use of pesticides. Please find our observations in the attached file.
Assomela believes that the Commission’s proposal of regulation for a sustainable use of pesticides is unacceptable and unsustainable since it does not consider the enormous impacts on the productivity and competitiveness of the European fruit and vegetable sector, a sector which already suffers from lack of alternatives to protect and ensure the production from pests, diseases, and the impact of climate change events. Actions must be taken to facilitate coordination between institutional actors at each level of governance, ensuring dialogue, flexibility, and all three pillars of sustainability, not the least the economic sustainability of the productions, assuring the actual survival of the farmers.
What we need is an approach that supports the European producers of fruits and vegetables, with realistic timeframes, being based on scientific methods, and which considers the efforts already made in recent years to reduce the quantities of pesticides in the field thanks to advancements in applied research and innovation. Before European farms go bankrupt and before the consumers will be forced to buy products from multinational companies in third countries, the proposed pesticide reduction targets urgently need to be refined. The current proposal seriously risks causing devastating impacts on the European production capacity and jeopardizes the viability of the entire fruit and vegetable production system of the EU.
Please see attached document for the complete feedback.
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