Doggy bags on request and fines for bars showing pay-TV programmes from customers’ homes: the latest developments in the Competition Bill
A ban on telemarketing, a human response from call centres within 150 seconds, unrestricted promotional sales prior to the sales period, and an extension of consumer protections for electricity. The League, FdI, the PD and the M5S are calling for the repeal of the provision allowing employment advisers to file financial statements
Key points
The right to take home food ordered at a restaurant but not consumed – a concept very often referred to as a ‘doggy bag’ – had been included in the draft competition bill as early as the summer, but was omitted when it was passed.
Now the League is reintroducing the proposal with an amendment aimed at tackling food waste. Restaurants and cafés should make it easier for customers to take away leftover food and drink, in accordance with criteria set out in a decree issued by the Ministries of Enterprise and Health, which will also introduce a logo to be displayed. It is one of the proposed amendments submitted to the Chamber of Deputies’ Committee on Productive Activities, where the draft bill has been inundated with amendments on all fronts.
Telemarketing
The majority is focusing primarily on telemarketing. Two proposals – one from the Lega and one from Squeri (Forza Italia) and Lovecchio (Fratelli d’Italia) – introduce a blanket ban on commercial solicitations by telephone, including via text message, into the Consumer Code.
In the event of a breach, AGCOM could have the lines suspended. Other amendments tabled by the Lega, FdI and Italia Viva, on the other hand, merely extend to telecoms the ban already in place for electricity and gas.
FdI is also calling for call centres for public utility services to ensure that a human operator answers within 150 seconds and that complaints are resolved within 30 working days.
