Ljubljana/Rome - The Italian government is launching infringement proceedings against Slovenia to defend the authenticity of its geographically protected balsamic vinegar, according to reports by the Austrian and Italian press agencies APA and Ansa, and the British newspaper The Guardian.

The news comes over a year after Italy first objected to Slovenia's draft regulation on vinegar and dilute acetic acid quality, which sets down that any vinegar mixture with concentrated fruit juice or must could be labelled balsamic vinegar.

In March last year, Italian Agriculture Minister Stefano Patuanelli was quoted as saying by the Italian media that the protection of Italian wine and food was one of the Italian government's priorities. "That is why we will do everything in our power to protect Balsamic Vinegar of Modena from such unlawful attacks," he said.

Slovenia notified the EU of the regulation in December 2020, after which Italy expressed strong opposition to the document in early March 2021.

Aceto Balsamico di Modena has had the geographical protection label since 2009, while the name Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena is a protected designation of origin. In Slovenia, on the other hand, the phrase balsamic vinegar is a generic name in general use.

The Guardian said that in 2019 Italian balsamic vinegar producers lost a legal battle against a German company selling its products as balsamico and Deutscher balsamico.