New three-year agreement (2026–2028) signed for the Marble Observatory. The institutional objective is to establish a unified guarantee brand to trace the supply chain from quarry extraction to processing.
From historic mountain quarries to international distribution, the entire local marble supply chain is preparing to operate under a single guarantee mark. With the signing of the new three-year agreement (2026–2028) extending the activities of the Marble Observatory, local institutions have officially initiated the operational process to establish the “Marmo di Carrara” certification mark, aimed at verifying geographical origin and product quality.
Institutional Collaboration for Resource Protection
The initiative is a joint effort between key regional institutional and economic stakeholders:
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Municipality of Carrara: Definition of the regulatory framework and production guidelines.
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Chamber of Commerce of North-West Tuscany: Strategic coordination and economic intelligence.
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Institute for Studies and Research (ISR): Economic and social data analysis.
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Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM): Technical support, traceability, and export analytics.
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Apuan Industrial Zone Consortium: Support for industrial and logistical infrastructure.
The project covers the entire value chain: from raw material extracted in local quarries to semi-finished and finished products manufactured within the regional district, in full compliance with Tuscan regional legislation.
“The objective is to create a mark covering all material extracted in Carrara quarries as well as marble processed within the district,” stated the Mayor of Carrara, Serena Arrighi. “Once the regulatory guidelines are established, private enterprises will be involved in the operational phase.”
Increasing Value-Add Amid Decreasing Volumes
The move toward certification comes at a key juncture for the sector. Data analyzed by the Observatory — established in 2024 to monitor the industry’s economic impact — indicates a contraction in extraction volumes and a slowdown in exports.
In response, institutions are focusing on increasing the added value per ton of processed marble, positioning the brand within high-end international architecture and luxury design segments.
“The Marble Observatory serves as essential economic intelligence infrastructure to guide the region’s main industry,” explained Valter Tamburini, President of the Chamber of Commerce of North-West Tuscany. “Export data indicates reduced volume; increasing the value added per ton of material represents the clearest strategic path forward.”
Traceability and Anti-Counterfeiting Measures
Cross-referencing institutional databases will provide advanced verification tools to safeguard against counterfeiting and unfair competition.
Paola Fusai, Director at the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), confirmed support for the initiative:
“The Agency has signed the agreement for the 2026–2028 period, contributing data, technical expertise, and analytical capacity to support this inter-institutional collaboration.”
With the upcoming definition of participation rules for private companies, the district takes a decisive step toward securing the international reputation of Carrara Marble.
