Made in: Brussels to decide

 The following is the complete interview with Vittorio Tabacchi, Knight of the Order of Merit for Labor, published today in “Sole24Ore”.

Stacks of cardboard boxes marked Made in China were stored in run-down warehouses and contained 600,000 pairs of eyeglasses with counterfeit brand names and fake prescription lenses. Yesterday’s maxi-confiscation by the Milan Financial Police was further confirmation of what Vittorio Tabacchi, Knight of the Order of Merit for Labor and president of Anfao, the Association of Optical Goods Manufacturers, has been saying for some time. “We must be more united inside the system. You see what happens on the outside? We’re being attacked on all sides”.
What are you referring to?
I’m referring to the "Made in Italy" law that was passed by Parliament and came into force in the middle of August, without any transitory period. This is a penal law and a period of adjustment was necessary. I’m talking about the law that the next Council of Ministers is very correctly preparing to put on hold. May I ask you a question?
Please do.
What counterfeit brands were seized?
In order of quantity: Armani, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry's, Gucci and Dior.
You see? My company has three of these labels under license. But where did these fake eyeglasses enter Italy? Genoa? The solution lies in strengthening existing laws. Otherwise, how can we react to attacks from the outside? I think it is right to insist on transparency; as Anfao, we have prepared a code of conduct for governing delocalization, a tool that has never been shared at corporate level.
You worked on it for a year, what happened to it?
Nothing, it died. Together with all the other companies in the district we tried to sort out the existing code and to explain what an entrepreneur’s contribution of originality signified. But instead of this code we suddenly found that we were struggling with a law that attacks the entire manufacturing sector.
Which productions are most affected?
They all are. Without any exception. Shall I tell you what I think? Thousands and thousands of jobs are on the line. All Made in Italy is at risk.
The artisans do not agree with putting it on hold.
This law might be acceptable for some artisans, but for the industry it is not. Consider this. A Honda can enter Italy marked Made in Italy, but a Panda made by Fiat in Poland cannot.
At this juncture, what do you expect from the Government?
I expect it to rescind the law or, at least, put it on hold until Europe says something. The law is completely against Europe because it penalizes the companies in only one country, in this case Italy. Here they’re beginning to clear customs anywhere - Spain, Holland. Everywhere except here. Does that seem normal?
One of the reasons for the probable about-turn is the European front.
That’s right. Why is it that this Parliament did not consider the expediency of speaking first to the European institutes about a delicate matter like this?
As a manufacturer of optical articles, what annoys you most?
Passing a Chanel store in a Venice and seeing dozens of fake Channel eyeglasses spread out on sheets on the ground by unauthorized vendors.
Anfao has promoted a strong anti-counterfeiting campaign but it was also the first to point out the inconsistencies in the “Made in” law.
True, but the two things must go together.