Ddl Pmi, in the Senate ok two amendments to support fashion

The fashion sector has been given the go-ahead for two amendments to the annual bill on SMEs, under discussion in the Senate's Industry Committee, which broaden the audience that has access to incentives and increase support for the made-in-Italy supply chain. Two apparently small steps, but important for a sector that invoices about 100 billion a year and is experiencing a period of crisis, with major repercussions on a system of about 60 thousand companies, mainly small and medium-sized, and about 600 thousand employees.

In detail, bipartisan amendments have been approved that modify Article 2 of the bill ("Financial measures for aggregation and support to the fashion sector") by lowering the minimum threshold of investments incentivised within the development programmes from three million to one million euros: the resources of the Fund for Sustainable Growth can therefore be allocated more widely to small and medium-sized enterprises belonging to the fashion supply chain for the realisation of development programmes within the limits of between one and 20 million. A measure that is welcomed by Confindustria Moda Accessori, which brings together companies in the leather supply chain: "The amendment guarantees broader access to the measure for companies in the sector, which are subject to a severe liquidity crisis," commented Giovanna Ceolini, president of Confindustria Moda Accessori.

At the same time, an amendment to the second paragraph of Article 2 was also approved: references to 'integration of production processes located in Italy along the entire value chain' and to the 'prevalent use of semi-finished products of Italian or European origin, where available on the market' were added to the valorisation of programmes proposed by simple aggregations of enterprises, again with a view to the above-mentioned facilities. "The amendment is aimed at strengthening the strategic impact of the programmes supported by the Fund," explains Gianfranco Di Natale, director general of Confindustria Moda - Federazione Tessile Moda, "to direct resources towards initiatives that can generate lasting added value and to enhance production excellence, production autonomy and the identity of Italian-made products. In full coherence with the European theme of sustainability and security of supply chains'. Now the eyes of the sector are on the amendments to Article 19 that introduce an Article 19-bis that establishes a single conformity certification scheme for fashion production chains.

A package of four amendments on the subject of online reviews also got the OK, with the aim of hindering illicit ones. In particular, it was established that an online review is lawful if it is issued no later than the date of use of the product or use of the service (as opposed to the 15 days stipulated in the original text).