FAQ: The Miteni PFAS Case, Shutdown In Italy, And Transfer Of Assets Abroad
07 January 2026, London: The shutdown of Miteni S.p.A. in 2018 marked a turning point in Europe’s response to PFAS contamination. What began as a regional water pollution issue in Italy’s Veneto region evolved into a landmark criminal trial and, later, a transnational story involving the sale of patents and industrial machinery outside the European Union. This FAQ brings together what is confirmed by published court records, investigative journalism, and official reporting, answering the most common questions surrounding what Miteni did, why it closed, what the courts decided, and what is known about the fate of its technology and equipment.
What was Miteni and where was it located?
Miteni S.p.A. was an Italian chemical manufacturer located in Trissino, near Vicenza, in the Veneto region of northern Italy. The company and its predecessor entities operated on the same site for several decades, beginning in the 1960s.
What chemicals did Miteni produce?
Miteni produced fluorinated chemical intermediates, including substances belonging to the PFAS family. These chemicals were used as inputs for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other industrial applications. PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and the human body.
How was Miteni linked to PFAS contamination in Italy?
Scientific studies conducted in the 2010s identified the Trissino plant as the primary source of widespread PFAS contamination in groundwater and drinking water across parts of Veneto. The pollution affected municipalities in the provinces of Vicenza, Padua, and Verona, exposing an estimated 300,000 to 350,000 residents, according to court findings and published reports.
When and why did the Miteni plant shut down?
The plant ceased operations and entered bankruptcy in 2018. This followed mounting regulatory scrutiny, environmental investigations, and criminal proceedings related to PFAS pollution. After the shutdown, responsibility for environmental remediation shifted to public authorities.
What legal action was taken against Miteni executives?
Italian prosecutors charged former managers and executives with offenses including environmental disaster and water contamination. The case became one of the largest environmental criminal trials in Europe.
What was the outcome of the Vicenza PFAS trial?
In June 2025, the Court of Assize in Vicenza convicted eleven former executives linked to Miteni and its parent companies. Media reports stated that the court found the pollution to be prolonged and avoidable. The verdict included prison sentences and enabled civil compensation claims by affected individuals and public bodies.
What happened to Miteni’s patents and industrial assets after bankruptcy?
After bankruptcy, Miteni’s assets, including patents, technical know-how, and manufacturing equipment, were sold through court-supervised procedures. Investigative reporting has documented that these assets were acquired by Viva Lifesciences, a subsidiary of Laxmi Organic Industries.
When did the sale of Miteni assets take place?
Published investigations indicate that the acquisition occurred around 2019, following the bankruptcy process. The exact commercial terms of the sale have not been made public in full, but court and bankruptcy records confirm that intellectual property and equipment were included.
Where was Miteni’s machinery reportedly shipped?
According to multiple investigative reports published between 2024 and 2025, part of the machinery from the former Miteni plant was dismantled and shipped to India. The most frequently cited destinations are industrial zones in Maharashtra, including areas such as Mahad and Lote in the Raigad and Ratnagiri districts.
Is PFAS manufacturing regulated in India?
At the time referenced in published investigations, PFAS were not regulated in India to the same extent as in the European Union. This regulatory gap was a central concern raised by journalists and environmental groups when reporting on the transfer of Miteni’s equipment.
How have the acquiring companies responded?
Laxmi Organic and Viva Lifesciences have stated in published responses that their operations comply with Indian laws and regulations. In some reports, the companies have said that their manufacturing processes differ from those previously used at the Italian plant.
Have Indian regulators taken action?
Indian media have reported that state-level authorities, including the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, sought clarifications regarding the nature of operations at facilities mentioned in investigative reports. As of publicly available reporting, no final court ruling in India has established wrongdoing specifically linked to the transferred Miteni machinery.
Is there public documentation of all machinery and patents transferred?
No complete public inventory of all machinery sold, nor full sale contracts or shipping manifests, has been released in the public domain. Journalistic accounts are based on court documents, auction records, regulatory filings, and interviews, which explains variations in how destinations and timelines are described across sources.
Why is the Miteni case considered significant globally?
The Miteni case is widely cited as an example of how industrial pollution can persist long after a factory closes and how hazardous technologies can move across borders. It has become a reference point in global discussions on PFAS regulation, corporate accountability, and the environmental risks of relocating chemical production rather than eliminating it.
Global Agriculture is an independent international media platform covering agri-business, policy, technology, and sustainability. For editorial collaborations, thought leadership, and strategic communications, write to pr@global-agriculture.com
