Sourcing · Buyer guide
How do I know an Italian food supplier is reliable?
That is the price of the official register extract of an Italian limited company, also available in English (Registro Imprese, consulted 19 October 2026). Five euros, before a wire transfer of thousands. Yet it is the step buyers skip most.
Is this company real, and what does it actually do?
Start with two checks. The EU's VIES tool tells you whether an Italian VAT number is valid: yes or no, nothing more. It does not tell you who owns it (European Commission).
The register extract, the visura camerale, says much more: legal form, date of incorporation, registered office, status (active, in liquidation, ceased) and the business activity by ATECO code (Registro Imprese). That code is where a trader shows up as a trader. A company registered as a wholesaler can sell you good food. It just did not make it. On platforms the difference matters even more: see Can I find real Italian food suppliers on Alibaba.com?.
Is the plant allowed to make this food?
For meat, dairy, fish and other foods of animal origin, an EU plant must be approved by the authority after an on-site visit. Its products carry an oval mark with the country code, IT for Italy, and the plant's approval number (EU Regulation 853/2004).
So ask for that number, and check it is on the label of the samples. If the oval shows a different number from the company you are talking to, someone else made the product.
What do their certificates really prove?
Each certificate answers one question. None answers all of them.
| What the supplier claims | Where you can check | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| BRCGS certified | BRCGS Directory, free account | The site passed a food safety audit |
| IFS certified | IFS database, open to retailers, auditors, authorities | Same, under the IFS standard |
| FSSC 22000 certified | FSSC public register | Same, under FSSC 22000 |
| EU organic | TRACES, organic operator certificates | The operator is certified organic in the EU |
| Organic for the US | An NOP Import Certificate for every shipment (USDA) | That shipment can be sold as organic in the US |
| PDO or PGI | eAmbrosia, EU register and the consortia lists of the Italian Ministry | The name is protected; ask the consortium about the producer |
Note the US organic rule: since 19 March 2024, every organic import must travel with its own NOP Import Certificate (USDA). An EU organic certificate alone is not enough.
Can I trust an "FDA registered" or "Verified" badge?
Not the first. It is the most misleading badge in food sourcing. FDA does not issue registration certificates, and does not recognise those sold by private businesses (FDA). Registration is free, and the registration database is not public (FDA).
So a framed "FDA certificate" proves that someone paid a consultant. What you can check is FDA's import alerts, which list the firms and products subject to detention at the border (FDA). The full US checklist is in What do I need to import Italian food into the US?.
The Verified Supplier badge on Alibaba.com answers one question: does this company exist where it says. Verified Supplier is an Alibaba.com membership tier with on-site verification by inspection companies such as SGS and TÜV (Alibaba.com). It tells you the plant was visited. It does not taste your order.
What can no database tell me?
How they behave. How fast they answer, whether the documents match each other, whether the samples match the photos, whether they say no when they should. A reliable supplier is consistent before the first order, because that is the only time you can still walk away.
This is the part we do by hand. We check Italian producers one by one before we introduce them to a buyer. If you are deciding between doing it yourself and hiring help, read Do I need a broker to buy food from Italy?.
Frequently asked questions
Does FDA certify Italian food suppliers?
No. FDA registers facilities for free and issues no certificate. A paid "FDA certificate" is a private document FDA does not recognise.
Can I check an Italian company online from abroad?
Yes. The register extract can be ordered online at registroimprese.it, also in English, at the same price as the Italian version.
Is a valid VAT number enough?
No. VIES only says whether the number is valid. It does not confirm who you are talking to.
How do I verify Italian organic food for the US?
Check the EU certificate in TRACES, then make sure each shipment has its own NOP Import Certificate.
Can Bellasource vet a supplier for me?
Yes. Tell us the product and the company, and we will tell you what we find.