UNIC claims victory with Italy’s new leather law
Tanning industry body UNIC has claimed a significant victory in the battle against the misuse of the term ‘leather’ after Italy’s council of ministers approved a new law that seeks to protect authenticity. Commentators said immediately that other countries should follow suit.
On May 29, UNIC announced that the council of ministers had approved a new law that will protect the term ‘leather’. As a result, companies that make and sell synthetic substitutes will not be able to misuse the term. Terms such as ‘pelle’ and ‘cuoio’ will only be permitted on materials deriving from animal hides and skins.
UNIC said the new law would replace one dating back to 1966 and was the result of a long period of non-stop effort on the part of UNIC to raise awareness of the issues surrounding leather and authenticity among politicians and law-makers.
“This is an extremely important result for Italian tanners and for the whole of the leather industry,” UNIC said.
