Doggy bags on request and fines at bars with pay TV at home: the new features of the competition bill
The League proposes the right to take home leftover restaurant food; the majority focuses on the ban on telephone commercial solicitations
Quick Look
- With an amendment to the competition bill, the League proposes the right to take home leftover food and drinks from the restaurant, with a decree from the Ministries of Business and Health and a logo to be displayed.
- The majority also focuses on telemarketing: general ban on commercial solicitations by telephone and via message, with possible suspension of lines by Agcom.
- FdI requests certain times for the call centers of public utility services.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The right to take home uneaten restaurant food, known as a doggy bag, had already been included in the draft competition bill in the summer, but was removed when it was passed. Now the League is proposing it again with an amendment against food waste. The competition bill is currently in the Productive Activities Committee of the Chamber and has received numerous amendments.
The right to take home what you ordered at a restaurant and did not consume - a concept that is very often translated as "doggy bag" - had been included in the draft of the competition law already in the summer, but was dropped at the time of approval.
Now the League is proposing it again with an amendment against food waste. Restaurateurs and bars should facilitate the takeaway of leftover food and drinks, according to criteria set by a decree of the Ministries of Business and Health, which will also establish a logo to be displayed. It is one of the amendment proposals that arrived in the Productive Activities Committee of the Chamber, where the bill was hit by amendments on all fronts.
The majority focuses first and foremost on telemarketing. Two proposals, one from the League and one from Squeri (Forza Italia) and Lovecchio (Fratelli d'Italia), introduce into the Consumer Code a general ban on commercial solicitations over the telephone, including via message.
In the event of a violation, Agcom could have the lines suspended. Other amendments by Lega, FdI and Italia Viva are limited to extending the ban already foreseen for electricity and gas to telecommunications.
FdI then requests that public utility service call centers guarantee a human response within 150 seconds and resolve complaints within 30 working days.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The doggy bag amendment will be discussed in the Productive Activities Committee of the Chamber
Likely · Within weeks
The Ministries of Business and Health will issue a decree with the criteria for takeaway and a logo to be displayed
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- When will the doggy bag amendment be discussed and approved?
- What specific criteria will the decree of the Ministries of Business and Health establish?
- When will the telemarketing ban go into effect?
- What precise sanctions will Agcom apply in the event of a violation?
