From baby biscuits to cured meats and PDO cheeses, the decree on food for deprived persons is in force

Here comes the decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, in agreement with the Ministry of Labour, regulating the distribution of foodstuffs to deprived persons for the year 2025. In fact, the Decree of 20 June 2025 with the 'Programme for the distribution of foodstuffs to deprived persons for the year 2025' was published in the Official Gazette 185 of 11 August. The decree is sent to the control bodies for registration and enters into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette, i.e. Tuesday 12 August.

The annual food distribution programme identifies the types of products, the beneficiary charitable organisations, and the implementation modalities, also in relation to liberal donations and donations provided by private parties and aimed at increasing the endowments of the Fund for the financing of national programmes for the distribution of foodstuffs to the most deprived persons in the territory of the Italian Republic, at the Agency for Agricultural Disbursements (Agea).

The interministerial decree implements the provision contained in the Budget Law 2025 and allocates for the 2025 campaign a total of 54.9 million euro for the National Fund for the Destitute. The allocation will be used to purchase a basket of food products from the Italian supply chain, which will then be distributed in cooperation with third sector organisations.

The basket of products that can be purchased includes baby biscuits, PDO cheeses, risotto rice, PDO and PGI cold cuts, veal, fruit juices, fruit salad, preserved vegetables and pulses.

Agea will define the timetable of the tenders for the purchase of food in agreement with the charitable organisations to meet their organisational needs and those of the beneficiaries. Among the organisations collaborating in this programme are the most important Third Sector associations: Caritas, Red Cross, Banco Alimentare, Banco delle Opere di Carità, Comunità di Sant'Egidio, Banco Alimentare Roma, Sempre per la Pace.