The Italian government continues to issue further regulations in order to combat the epidemiological emergency of COVID-19.
In this regard, Law Decree of 22 March 2020 establishes further measures to prevent the spread by shutting down all productive activities in the national territory.
The suspension is effective as from March 23 and until April 3; up until March 25 it is possible to perform those activities which are necessary for the purposes of the shutdown (including the delivery of goods in stock).
The shutdown concerns all industrial and commercial production activities, with a few exceptions, which can be summarised as follows:
1) the activities indicated in Annex 1 of the Decree are not shut down, that is, those considered essential for the current interests of the country, such as, by way of example: agricultural cultivation and the production of animal products, fishing, food and beverage industries, the manufacture of paper, chemical, pharmaceutical, rubber, plastic, motors and machinery for certain types of industry, the supply of power, gas and water, the trading of food, agricultural raw materials and animals, the wholesale trade of pharmaceuticals, the trading of means of and equipment for transport, transport, hotels and similar establishments, the financial and insurance activities, the activities of professional firms, cleaning and pest control activities, education, repair and maintenance of technological equipment etc.;
2) the activities relating to public utility services and essential services will continue
It should be noted that the term “public utility services” refers to those activities that require a legislative provision to identify them as such and that, alternatively, provides for their mandatory establishment and regulation or which remits their establishment and organization to the Public Administration.
The essential public services are, on the other hand, those indicated in art. 1 of Law no. 146 of 12 June 1990, which include, for example, health, civil protection, collection and disposal of urban and special waste, customs, supply of energy, energy products, natural resources and basic necessities, public transport, postal services, telecommunications as well as public radio and television information;
3) the activities that, although falling within those suspended under the Law Decree, can be performed at a distance or by smart working are not suspended;
4) the activities functional to ensuring the continuity of the supply chains as per those set out in Annex 1 and essential public utilities and services, can continue provided that:
i) the Prefecture of the province where the production activity is located is provided with advance notice;
ii) the companies and administrations that will benefit from the products and services they offer are specifically indicated.
In any event, the Prefecture is allowed to suspend the activity if they are not considered functional to the activities which are permitted to carry on, it being understood that the activity shall be deemed as lawfully exercised on the basis of the communication made to the Prefecture until such time (if any) that a suspension order is issued;
5) again subject to providing the Prefecture with prior notice (and the Prefecture will in any event have the right to order the suspension of the activity), the activities of plants having a continuous production cycle are permitted, if their interruption would cause serious damage to the plant itself;
6) the activities of professional firms are not suspended.
Regarding commercial activities, the suspension already provided will remain in force.
The text of the Law Decree signed by the Prime Minister together with the list of production activities permitted to date is attached.
