Italian legal counsel for circular economy, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and product-related environmental regulation. We support international manufacturers, brand owners, distributors, online sellers, investors and overseas law firms with the Italian-law component of European circularity requirements. The practice combines environmental public law, national EPR obligations, regulatory proceedings and research-based comparative analysis.
IR Global — exclusive Environmental Law position for Italy
Alfonso Maria Fimiani has been accepted as the exclusive Environmental Law member for Italy within IR Global. Official membership commences on 28 November 2026. The position facilitates cooperation with network professionals on environmental law matters involving Italy; mandates remain subject to conflict checks, individual professional responsibility and defined engagement terms.
Specialist advice for international manufacturers
Textile EPR and fashion brands →
Pharmaceutical EPR — wastewater micropollutants →
An EPR issue begins with the product and the economic operator
The identity of the obligated producer is a legal question, not necessarily the same as the factory physically manufacturing the product. An assessment may involve the brand, importer, distributor, online seller or authorised representative, depending on the sector and territorial rules. We examine products and their classifications, market flows, registers, collective schemes, contractual allocation, implementation dates, administrative proceedings and potential disputes.
Circular economy law extends beyond EPR. Waste hierarchy, repair, re-use, by-products, end-of-waste, ecodesign, digital product information and secondary materials may be governed by different instruments. We distinguish an existing obligation from a proposed measure, a national implementation deadline or a future delegated act.
Our industry-specific advice
Textiles, fashion, footwear and online sales
Producer status, future national textile EPR, transboundary sales, contractual responsibility, collection and re-use models, fee differentiation and evidence requirements. Directive (EU) 2025/1892 requires transposition by 17 June 2027 and national textile EPR systems by 17 April 2028. Textile EPR for fashion brands →
Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and wastewater micropollutants
Legal assessment of the producer-financed quaternary wastewater-treatment system under Directive (EU) 2024/3019, the scope for human medicinal and cosmetic products, possible exemptions, reporting and contractual sharing of future financial responsibilities. Pharmaceutical EPR and wastewater →
Packaging, PPWR and pharmaceutical packaging
Italian packaging EPR and CONAI issues, market access, imports and distribution, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40, packaging minimisation, reuse and relevant sector-specific derogations. Packaging EPR and PPWR → · Pharmaceutical packaging →
Electrical and electronic equipment — WEEE
Italian WEEE producer status under Legislative Decree No 49/2014, national registers, overseas producers and their representatives, collective financing, distance selling, take-back duties and regulatory disputes. WEEE and EPR in Italy →
Batteries, accumulators and critical materials
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 combines waste-battery producer responsibility with sustainability, information and other product obligations that have distinct application dates. We assess the role of importers and producers, contractual allocation, applicable information requirements and regulatory exposure.
Specialist advice: battery EPR in Italy →
Automotive, end-of-life vehicles, tyres and oils
The new EU end-of-life vehicle regulation entered into force in August 2026; its general application is scheduled for 1 September 2028. Legal questions may concern producer responsibility, dismantling, authorised treatment and reuse of components. Tyres and waste oils follow specific national sectoral rules and must be reviewed separately.
Specialist advice: automotive EPR and end-of-life vehicles →
Industrial waste, construction, by-products and end-of-waste
Not every circular-economy activity is part of a producer-responsibility scheme. Our work encompasses classification of production residues, by-product criteria, end-of-waste procedures, secondary raw materials, recovery contracts, permits and challenges to regulatory decisions.
Ecodesign, Digital Product Passports and prevention
Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) provides an overarching framework for product sustainability and digital product passports, with operational obligations to be specified and phased in for relevant product categories. We examine its interplay with Italian market access, EPR cost allocation, durability, repairability and opportunities to extend product life.
Environmental due diligence and transaction support
International M&A and commercial counsel may need a focused Italian environmental-law review of an industrial target: operating authorisations, waste management responsibilities, administrative orders, remediation issues and regulatory risks material to signing, warranties or closing. Environmental legal due diligence for acquisitions →
Academic research behind the practice
Alfonso Maria Fimiani is a legal researcher in public, administrative and environmental law and is pursuing doctoral research at Sapienza University of Rome. His research stay at the Institut de recherche juridique de la Sorbonne, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, focuses on European and comparative producer responsibility, circular economy regulation, re-use and the legal implications of product longevity. The practice’s work is informed by legal scholarship and the analysis of primary sources, not by unsupported compliance certifications.
Deliverables for foreign companies and referring firms
Regulatory memorandum: producer qualification, territorial application, duties, deadlines and identified legal risks. Transaction and contract review: product classification, reporting responsibility, authorised representation and cost clauses. Administrative and contentious assistance: positions taken by authorities or schemes, inspections, administrative remedies and proceedings. Cross-border referrals: Italian component of a wider transaction or compliance programme with clear scope, reporting and engagement terms.
Technical lifecycle assessments, laboratory tests, environmental engineering and recurring compliance filings are separate specialist activities and are not described as legal advice. Initial enquiries should identify the sector, relevant products, trade flows, parties and deadlines without sending privileged material before conflict checks.
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Primary sources: Directive 2008/98/EC; Directive (EU) 2025/1892; Directive (EU) 2024/3019; Regulation (EU) 2025/40; Regulation (EU) 2023/1542; Regulation (EU) 2024/1781; Italian Legislative Decree No 152/2006.