The Italian Floriculture Association Launches a Guide for Floriculture Producers in Collaboration with CIA Italian Farmers
The Italian Floriculture Association, with the support of CIA Italian Farmers, has published a guide to inform Italian floriculture producers about the new CONAI circular dated February 24, 2025, regarding the application of the CONAI Environmental Contribution (CAC) on plastic pots for flowers and plants starting from March 1, 2025.
The new circular introduces important changes for the sector, establishing that plastic pots with a wall thickness of up to 0.5 mm are considered packaging and are therefore subject to the CAC. Pots with a thickness greater than 0.5 mm, however, are not considered packaging unless they are sold with the plant. In this case, the end user of the pot (the plant producer) can decide whether to consider it packaging or not.
The Italian Floriculture Association, together with CIA Italian Farmers, has expressed its opposition to the application of the CAC on plastic pots for flowers and plants, arguing that it constitutes an unjustified bureaucratic burden for businesses in the sector. The pot, in fact, is not just packaging, but an essential element for the survival and development of the plant. The application of the CAC could negatively affect the competitiveness of Italian companies at a time when the new EU regulation on packaging and waste, set to come into force in August 2026, is anticipated.
The guide provides floriculture producers with initial information to navigate the new contribution, but further details will be provided once CONAI releases additional guidance.
“Our goal is to support Italian floriculture producers in applying this new regulation, but we do not agree with its principle of application,” said Aldo Alberto, President of the Italian Floriculture Association. “We will continue our efforts, along with CIA Italian Farmers, to make both national and European authorities understand the specific nature of live plants and advocate for the necessary clarifications.”
