New 2018 Legislation for MAP in Italy

National laws governing the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) sector in Italy were first established in 1931 and other legislative actions followed in the years immediately thereafter. In 2018, a revision of the early legislation was finally released after many years and input from all involved in the sector. This work, a part of other MAP research in the Piedmont Region of northwest Italy, describes the 2018 legislation, compares and contrasts it with the 1931 law, and considers its potential to impact and create opportunities in the sector. Although products named botanicals are not regulated by the 2018 MAP law in Italy, the legislation governing the category is discussed in order to provide a comprehensive review of regulatory intervention for officinal plants. The goal of this work is to educate Italian MAP sector researchers and public/private operators of the legislative changes and its implications. The analysis highlights that the 2018 legislation embraces continued expansion of the sector by providing goals and oversight for the process