Stay informed with the LNN Daily Newsletter

New labelling rules for Italian pasta may impact Canadian durum exports

Jul 24, 2017 | 3:12 PM

OTTAWA –  Italy has announced a new rule about labelling on pasta packages which could impact the largest export market for Canadian durum wheat.
 
The new rule stipulates that pasta packages sold in supermarkets in Italy will have to carry labels saying where the wheat used to make the product comes from.

An official with Italy’s biggest agricultural organization says the change will help boost demand for Italian wheat in a slumping market.
 
It is seen as a protectionist measure spurred on by an Italian farm union to increase the value of Italian durum wheat.  The move will increase the cost of exporting Canadian durum into Italy and would increase costs of the finished product on Italian store shelves.
 
Canada has the highest quality of durum wheat in the world and is the largest exporter of durum into Italy, which could not make the high-quality pasta that they are renowned for without using Canadian durum.
 
Canadian grain officials are hoping the Italian government doesn’t allow the protectionist measure.