Ceramic tiles: approval for shipments by companies in the Emilia-Romagna region

The order issued on the evening of Friday 3 April by the Italian Ministry of Health and the Emilia Romagna Regional Government authorises companies to sell products in stock in Italy and abroad.

Companies based in the Emilia-Romagna region whose businesses have been shut down until 13 April have just received a shot in the arm. With an order issued on the evening of Friday 3 April, the Italian Ministry of Health in agreement with the President of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Government has authorised the sale of products in stock in Italy and abroad.

The agreement between the Regional Government and the Ministry finally resolves the doubts surrounding the interpretation of Prime Ministerial Decree of 22/3/2020 regarding the types of activities that can be carried out by companies under manufacturing shutdown. These include all companies in the ceramic tile supply chain (tile and machinery manufacturers), an industry that is heavily concentrated in the clusters located in the Emilia Romagna region.

Confindustria Ceramica Chairman Giovanni Savorani had recently called for companies to at least be allowed to continue shipping goods already in stock, as is the case in Spain.

The new order now allows these operations to be carried out “with the use of flexible labour or, if necessary, adopting organisational methods that ensure the anti-contagion measures prescribed in the safety protocols prescribed by the regulations in force”.