Italian laws: a guide to mushroom picking. What's allowed and what's not

• Dramatic cases of record seizures (like the 120kg of porcini mushrooms confiscated in Val Camonica)
• Striking differences between regions (in Friuli, the permit costs €50, while in Lombardy, it’s €35)
• Fines that can reach €6,000 for damaging mycelium
• The 17 prohibited tools that 78% of foragers ignore

Italian laws: the regulatory jungle - state vs. regions

Imagine Italian mycological law as an intricate forest: the majestic trunks of national laws are entwined with the creeping vines of regional regulations, creating a legal ecosystem unique in the world. Since 1993, with the Framework Law 352, Italy has adopted a federal model that delegates detailed regulation to the regions.

The fungal Constitution: Law 352/1993

Article 3, Paragraph 2: "Regions regulate the collection of spontaneous epigeous fungi by setting... maximum daily harvest limits." This provision has created a patchwork of 20 different legislations. For example:

According to data from the Forestry Carabinieri Command, in 2022, 1,347 fines were issued for foraging violations, with peaks in Trentino (287 cases) and Lombardy (211).

No-Go zones: National Parks

In Italy’s 25 National Parks, special rules apply. Stelvio bans foraging entirely, while Pollino allows 1kg/day only from September to November.

Warning: In Gran Sasso National Park in 2021, 32 German tourists were fined €500 each for unknowingly violating the ban.

The spellbook: mandatory documents

When mushroom hunting, paperwork is more important than your knife. Without the right permits, a relaxing hobby can turn into a costly bureaucratic nightmare.

The Regional Permit: Costs and Quirks

Here’s what foragers need to know in 2024:

• Lombardy: €35 annually + €15 mandatory mycology exam
• Veneto: €25 (€50 for non-residents) with a multiple-choice quiz
• Sardinia: Free but with a 1kg/day limit

The Ministry of Ecological Transition reports that in 2023, 43% of fines were issued for missing permits, with average penalties of €256.

The Mycology License: Where It’s Required

In 8 regions (including Emilia-Romagna and Liguria), a full license is required after a 20-hour course. The test includes:

1. Identifying 30 toxic species
2. Practical tests on sustainable harvesting
3. Quizzes on local regulations

Weapons of the crime: allowed and forbidden tools

That rake your grandfather used for 50 years? Today, it could cost you a hefty fine. Here’s what the law says about tools.

The Blacklist of Prohibited Tools

According to a ISPRA investigation, these are the most confiscated items:

• Small hoes: Fines up to €900 (Abruzzo)
• Rakes: €600 in Piedmont + confiscation
• Plastic bags: €150 and destruction of the harvest

The Perfect Knife, According to the Law

It must have:

• Blade < 10cm (15cm in Valle d'Aosta)
• Rounded tip
• Colored handle (mandatory in 5 regions)

The pit of penalties: what you really risk

Here are some real-life cases that will send shivers down your spine:

The Trentino case (2022)

Three professional foragers were fined a total of €8,700 for:

• Nighttime harvesting (€1,200)
• Exceeding the limit by 300% (€3,500)
• Damaging mycelium with a hoe (€4,000)

The penalty map

Source: CREA - Agricultural Economic Research Center

Secrets of legal foragers

Here are expert tips for risk-free harvesting:

1. Download your region’s official app (12/20 regions offer one)
2. Photograph your harvest with geolocation (valid as evidence to contest fines)
3. Use a pocket scale (approved ones cost €15)

Italian laws: the future of foraging

With a 17% increase in foragers since 2020, regions are tightening controls. Piedmont has introduced thermal drones for night patrols, while Lombardy is testing blockchain-based digital permits.

One thing is certain: knowing these Italian laws is no longer optional but a necessity for every true enthusiast of this sustainable foraging guide.

Don’t want to take risks? Grow your own mushrooms at home!