Different laws
14/07/2008
Italy's leather sector, including footwear, achieved exports of EUR 21 billion in 2007, returning to the levels it enjoyed at the turn of this century.
The figures come from a report issue by Fiamp, an industry federation representing 34,200 accessory manufacturing companies across Italy.
Fiamp’s president, Rossano Soldini explained on releasing the numbers that many of his members felt the competition they faced, particularly from Asian operators, was unfair.
He said: “What is the point in having rules governing free trade, public health and care for the environment if only a handful of people respect them? Our tanneries have to obey some of the strictest environmental protection laws in the world. It's fair, but operators have to spend between 3% and 5% of turnover to make their production processes eco-compatible. And what's the use if our citizens are still exposed to harmful substances from imported products?”
He quoted a study that found that, under examination, 35 out of 150 imported shoes contained harmful substances including nickel, cadmium, chrome VI and formaldehyde.
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