Selling Goods Rome

Selling goods in Rome

As of 2001, regions can legislate in trade matters. National administrative procedures only illustrate general guidelines and entrepreneurs must therefore comply with the specific local legislation of the region where they intend to start a retail activity. Entrepreneurs must get information on specific Lazio region legislation before starting a retail activity. For information and forms entrepreneurs may turn to the counter for productive activities of Rome or other Lazio town councils.

According to Italian trade law (Decree no. 114 of 1998), commercial activities are divided into categories ruled by specific legislation. These are:

wholesale trade (buying goods to be sold to other traders, merchants, professional users or other large-scale users); retail trade (buying goods to be sold directly to the end-consumers)

Different regulations apply depending on the structure and surface area of businesses, whether medium-sized selling structures, commercial centres or neighbouring with other businesses. Trade activities are divided into two categories by law:

Food sector Non-food sector

Commercial activities in the non-food sector must adhere to moral requirements. Commercial activities in the food sector must respect both moral and professional requirements. This means that entrepreneurs must follow a professional course or prove they have at least two years' work experience in the field. Complex rules govern trading in the food sector.

Under the moral requirements, the following entrepreneurs may not obtain a professional licence:

entrepreneurs who have been declared bankrupt (unless discharged); entrepreneurs who have a criminal record.

The Chamber of Commerce of Rome organizes professional courses for entrepreneurs who wish to set up a business in the food sector. Foreign entrepreneurs who have a suitable qualification must apply to get it recognised at the Trade Office of the Rome council (or where the business activity is based).

Administrative procedures to set up a business vary according to the type of activity carried out and where the activity is based.
For wholesale trade it is up to the Rome’s Chambers of Commerce to verify the requirements.

Compulsory administrative procedures:

registration, within thirty days, with the Business Register, along with a declaration of moral and professional requirements (for the food sector only); issuing of the technical health authorisation by the town council; issuing of the certificate of fire prevention measures by the local fire brigade concerning areas used as storage rooms with a gross surface area of 400m2; issuing of specific authorisations under laws for specific products (for example in the case of precious metals or food storage).

As for retail trade, in the case of small trading businesses (companies with a surface area of up to 250m2) entrepreneurs must submit a "set-up form" (Modello COM 1). Thirty days later the business may begin without any further authorisation from the town council. Businesses must register within thirty days with the Business register.

Entrepreneurs wishing to set up a medium-size trading business (with a surface area of up to 2,500m2) must submit an authorisation request (Modello COM 2) to the one-stop shop for production activities of the town council.

If the authorisation is not granted within 90 days, the request is automatically accepted (principle of tacit consent). Large trading businesses (with surface areas exceeding 2,500m2) must apply for a specific authorisation (COM 2 Form).

Within 60 days, an assembly held by representatives of the town council, the province and the region is convened specifically to examine the application. A decision regarding the application will then be taken within 90 days.

If the business requesting the authorisation is a partnership, the following certificates must be submitted:

Company act; Indication of persons in charge of running the company; Documents certifying that the company is active, issued by the Chamber of Commerce.

As for trading businesses on public grounds and businesses dealing with food and beverage supply, legislation imposes different administrative procedures depending on the nature of the activity.