Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Interventions in three different commercial establishments. Scavuzzo “Protect citizens from possible health dangers”

Milan, October 30 2019 - In recent days, in three different interventions, the Consumer Protection Unit of the Commercial Rationale of the Local Police has seized a total of over 80 thousand capsules and over 62 kilos of non-compliant supplement powder, and imposed fines of 21 thousand 998 euros . 

In the first of the two shops checked, in via Paolo Sarpi, 390 packages containing over 47 thousand capsules and 13,8 kilos of supplement powder were seized, while in the second 206 non-compliant packages containing over 33 thousand tablets were found. and 31,9 kilos of dust. The contents of the packages were similar for both shops. In particular, these were collagen powder, Omega 3 and various multivitamins, some even for children.

In the third shop, in the Central Station area, 123 packs of powdered product for a total of 16,7 kilos were seized. In this case they were supplements indicated for stomach pain, intestinal problems, but also energy products to enhance sexual activity.

In several cases the seized packages did not even contain information in Italian on the contents.

For the first two shops a fine of 6 thousand 666 euros was imposed, for the third instead of 8 thousand 666 euros because a further administrative anomaly was found, and the owner was also reported because in his shop there were unlicensed over-the-counter drugs were found for sale.

All managers were charged with the offense of failure to communicate to the Ministry of Health for the marketing of food supplements and, taking into account the lack of verification by the competent body regarding the adequate level of health protection, in order to avoid a danger to public health, all the packages were also confiscated.

“The activities of the Annonaria – comments the deputy mayor Anna Scavuzzo – are essential to verify the correct management of commercial establishments and, as in these cases, to protect citizens from possible health dangers and allow them to purchase verified and compliant products” .

The activity of the Local Police unit has focused on this new phenomenon: the sale of supplement packs that do not comply with the rules for marketing in Italy.

In fact, the regulations relating to the sale of food supplements provide, based on Legislative Decree 169 of 2004, that at the time of first marketing the company concerned must inform the Ministry of Health by transmitting a model of the label used for the specific product. As a result of this communication, once the notification procedure has been successfully concluded, food supplements are included in a register established at the competent ministry of public health, freely consultable by all users. This did not happen with the material found by the officers.