On July 12, according to Italian media Il Resto del Carlino, the Italian financial police discovered during the “Electronic Waste” operation that a company in Reggio Emilia had failed to register in the national register and did not fulfill all the obligations under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management system. The company now faces a hefty fine ranging from €200 million to over €1 billion.
The investigation revealed that this company in Reggio Emilia had produced and sold over one million e-cigarettes across Italy over the past five years without registering in the national register, a system specifically for managing and funding the disposal of electrical and electronic equipment waste.
The “Electronic Waste” operation was initiated by the Italian financial police following a report from the “Permanent Observatory for the Protection of the Italian Electronic Market” (Optime Federation). After a detailed study of relevant regulations and their implementation rules, it was determined that the company was a “producer” of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and therefore required to comply with the provisions of Decree No. 49/2014.
According to this decree, any entity importing EEE products from third countries or EU member states and placing them on the domestic market in the course of their professional activities is considered a “producer.”
A meticulous reconstruction of accounting and documents for products imported and placed on the Italian market between 2019 and 2024 revealed that the company sold over one million such products domestically during this period.
Under the regulations, companies producing and selling EEE must register in this system to ensure they bear the responsibility for the recycling, treatment, and disposal of their product waste.
The failure to register also meant the company did not pay the required waste recycling and treatment fees, leading to a potential fine ranging from €200 million to over €1 billion.
Optime President Davide Rossi noted, “When our observatory discovered and reported suspected cases of ‘disposable’ e-cigarettes being placed on the domestic market, we did not fully understand the extent and severity of this phenomenon. The investigation revealed a shocking flow of products and the damage caused to the legal market, the state, public health, and the environment.”
FAQs
What led to the investigation of the e-cigarette company in Italy?
The “Electronic Waste” operation was initiated following a report from the “Permanent Observatory for the Protection of the Italian Electronic Market” (Optime Federation), leading to the discovery of the company’s failure to register in the national register and comply with WEEE management obligations.
What is Decree No. 49/2014 in Italy?
Decree No. 49/2014 outlines the responsibilities of producers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) regarding the recycling, treatment, and disposal of their product waste. It requires entities importing and selling EEE in Italy to register and fulfill specific obligations.
How many e-cigarettes did the company produce and sell without registration?
The company produced and sold over one million e-cigarettes across Italy between 2019 and 2024 without registering in the national register.
What are the potential fines for non-compliance with WEEE regulations?
The company faces a potential fine ranging from €200 million to over €1 billion for failing to comply with WEEE regulations.
What impact did the company’s actions have on the market and environment?
The company’s non-compliance caused significant damage to the legal market, the state, public health, and the environment by bypassing required waste recycling and treatment responsibilities.
Who reported the non-compliance issue to the authorities?
The issue was reported by the “Permanent Observatory for the Protection of the Italian Electronic Market” (Optime Federation).
What measures are in place to ensure compliance with WEEE regulations in Italy?
Companies producing and selling EEE in Italy must register in the national system, pay the required waste recycling and treatment fees, and comply with the regulations outlined in Decree No. 49/2014.
