MOSCOW, July 7Russian restaurants, pizzerias and ice cream producers can again receive the Italianissimo certificate, which indicates that their products are authentically Italian, the first diplomas have already been sent out, said the head of the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce (IRTC) Ferdinando Pelazzo.
«We decided to re-issue diplomas for restaurants, ice cream producers, pizzerias, which produce according to a certain protocol. We can assume that they produce and cook, like in Italy… We issued these certificates. On Monday we started sending them to all our members and non-members who have restaurants, pizzerias or produce ice cream,» Pelazzo told the agency. 
< br />He said that previously the Chamber of Commerce issued them on behalf of the Italian government.
“»We will continue to issue these certificates. These are very popular certificates in Russia, because they provide an advantage: restaurants that have it, for them this is additional advertising… The certificate is called “Italianissimo,” the head of the Chamber of Commerce clarified.
Pelazzo noted, that Italy is interested in such certification.
«We are also interested in the fact that Russians eat in restaurants that cook as if in Italy. Not just a fake of Italian cuisine,” said the head of the Chamber of Commerce. 
He explained that there are certain criteria for graduation, such as ingredients and the number of wines on the menu.
“Very often you see that a restaurant has 200 different bottles of wine, and then after ordering they say that this is not there, there are two bottles left. People are willing to pay to have a choice,” said the head of the chamber of commerce.
He said that IRTI hires specialists who evaluate the compliance of a restaurant, pizzeria or ice cream manufacturer with the criteria.
«It's a tasty job, but it's important to do it well. Then clients compare,» Pelazzo said.
According to the head of the chamber of commerce, its members are about 250 companies, most of which are Italian. He previously reported that almost half of exports from Italy to Russia are not subject to sanctions, in particular wine, shoes and fashion items. Pelazzo noted that supplies of goods from Italy to Russia previously accounted for 4% of total national exports, but in 2023 this figure fell to 0.9%.