To ban horse meat yes or no? Italy is divided

But Centinaio looks ahead. 'I respect the decision of those who, for emotional, moral or ideological reasons, prefer not to eat products derived from some or all animals,' says the vice-president of Palazzo Madama, 'but I think it is right to ask for the same respect for the culture of so many local communities, which is also defined by traditional dishes.

Those who do not accept the discrediting of an entire production sector is Confagricoltura. "The farms operate in compliance with national and European regulations on animal welfare, traceability and food safety," comments the president of the Piacenza section, Umberto Gorra. "These activities are subject to continuous controls, which ensure high standards throughout the supply chain," he continues. "We must be vigilant so that the public debate does not become the umpteenth opportunity to put livestock supply chains in a cone of shadow, which are already too frequently subjected to media processes that do not distinguish between virtuous realities and other isolated cases".

"A ban on the slaughter and marketing of horsemeat would reduce the freedom of choice of many consumers who would no longer be able to find a product that not only represents a source of employment for many workers and income for the many companies in the supply chain, from butchers to breeders to distributors, but also represents a cultural and gastronomic element deeply rooted in our country," said Federcarni-Confcommercio in a note. 'A rule that introduces a generalised ban,' the federation points out, 'risks having a significant impact on consumption habits, economic activities and employment linked to this sector. Federcarni is willing to engage in a constructive debate, hoping that the legislator will carefully evaluate any alternative or corrective regulatory solutions that take into account production and territorial specificities and do not compromise the sustainability of the companies involved.