Ferragni decree, the clampdown on influencers' charities arrives

The aim is to ensure that consumers receive clear and non-misleading information on charitable initiatives implemented by influencers and content creators. The draft law known in the media as the Ferragni Bill, which introduces a clampdown on the charity of influencers, is currently being examined by the Productive Activities Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. The bill had been presented to the Council of Ministers by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy in the wake of the Ferragni case, following the Antitrust Authority's fine of more than €1 million for 'unfair commercial practice' for sales of Balocco's 'Pink Christmas' pandoro, with pink icing sugar, which were supposed to contribute to a donation for Turin's Regina Margherita hospital. Transparency is the declared objective of the bill, which lays down provisions on the commercial practices of producers and professionals in relation to the promotion, sale or supply to consumers of products whose proceeds are in part intended for charity. In today's episode of Parliament 24 we talk about this with the rapporteur, Gianluca Caramanna of Fdi.

'We have seen that unfortunately the money is not always given to the beneficiaries. In the case of the pandoro gate,' Caramanna recalled, 'there was a sum paid out at the beginning, without then giving the proceeds from the sale of the products to the beneficiaries. We ask for transparency to protect consumers in order to give clear information to those who are buying a product thinking they are doing charity work,' Caramanna explained, emphasising that with this bill there will be 'very clear rules, fundamental for those who buy a product or even for those who watch an advertisement for a product'.

Three rules were introduced by the bill. "Make it very clear who is going to benefit. There must be,' Caramanna explained, 'a very clear list of the associations that are to benefit from the charity, it must be clear how this money will be used and also the share of the charity that will be donated from the expense of the product that will be bought. Whoever buys a product will have to know where, how and when this money will be allocated." Caramanna said that on the products a short box will indicate the subject, the beneficiary and the share that will be allocated. And it will have to be very clear, even on social media, not only in TV advertising, but also in digital formats.

'At Agcom, the Communications Guarantee Authority, it will be mandatory to say when the quotas will be allocated. And it will be necessary to state clearly when the money will be allocated,' Caramanna explains, emphasising that 'if within three months of the end of the sale of the product the money is not allocated, sanctions ranging from 5 thousand to 50 thousand euro will be triggered. In addition to administrative penalties, which we have seen in other cases'.