Market
Green dried peas (Pisum sativum) in Italy are marketed mainly as shelf-stable dry pulses (often split) for household cooking and as an ingredient input for food manufacturing. Italy is a net importer for HS 071310 (dried, shelled peas), with 2023 imports reported at about USD 85.7 million and 221.1 million kg. The 2023 supplier mix reported for HS 071310 is highly concentrated in Russia and Ukraine, making supply continuity and sanctions/banking/logistics constraints a material exposure. Domestic cultivation of peas/protein crops exists (including agronomic programs at regional level), but import availability is a key determinant of supply.
Market RoleNet importer
Domestic RoleDomestic consumption and processing ingredient market; imports cover a large share of supply
Market GrowthNot Mentioned
SeasonalityYear-round availability driven by shelf-stable storage; procurement cycles are influenced by major-origin harvests and stockholding rather than Italian harvest seasonality alone.
Risks
Geopolitics And Sanctions Compliance HighItaly’s HS 071310 dried pea imports were reported as highly concentrated in Russia and Ukraine in 2023, creating a deal-breaker exposure to disruption from the Russia–Ukraine war, Black Sea/Eastern Europe logistics constraints, and EU sanctions/financial-compliance complications that can delay or prevent shipments even when goods are not explicitly banned.Diversify origin approvals (e.g., EU suppliers and other global exporters), add sanctions-screening and payment/insurance contingency checks, and maintain buffer stocks for retail programs.
Logistics MediumFreight and insurance volatility on routes linked to Eastern Europe/Black Sea corridors can materially change landed cost and delivery reliability for bulk dried peas.Use forward freight/insurance planning, flexible routing options, and multi-origin contracting to reduce single-corridor dependency.
Food Safety MediumNon-compliance with EU maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides or other official-control findings can trigger detention, rejection, or withdrawal from the market.Implement supplier residue-control programs, pre-shipment testing where risk-based, and maintain documentation supporting EU MRL compliance.
Regulatory Compliance MediumIf the specific product presentation/origin falls under EU plant-health import requirements, missing or incorrect phytosanitary documentation can cause delays or refusal at entry.Verify plant-health import status for the exact CN/commodity form and origin against Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 Annexes and align exporter documentation before shipment.
Sustainability- Protein-crop cultivation (including peas) is promoted in Italy/EU research and policy discussions to improve resilience and reduce dependence on imported plant proteins; rotation benefits are a common agronomic rationale.
- Integrated production schemes at regional level (e.g., Emilia-Romagna) indicate structured crop-management expectations for pea/protein-pea cultivation.
Labor & Social- Retailer supply-chain social compliance programs may extend worker-rights controls to farm harvest stages (example: Coop private label communication for dried split peas).
Standards- Retailer quality control schemes audited/certified by third parties are used in the Italian market (example: Coop indicates its control system is certified by Bureau Veritas Italia and CSQA for its dried split peas line).
FAQ
Which HS code is commonly used for dried shelled peas imported into Italy?Dried, shelled peas (Pisum sativum) are classified under HS code 071310.
Which countries were Italy’s main suppliers of dried peas (HS 071310) in 2023?In 2023, Italy’s largest reported suppliers by value for HS 071310 were the Russian Federation and Ukraine, followed by smaller shares from France and Canada.
What are key compliance checks for dried peas placed on the Italian (EU) market?Key checks include compliance with EU pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs) under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 and the EU official controls framework under Regulation (EU) 2017/625. Depending on the exact product presentation and origin, EU plant-health rules may also require phytosanitary documentation under Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, and relevant workflows can involve TRACES.