The festival debate in Grosseto also involves competition rules. In a statement dated 4 November 2024, Confcommercio and Confesercenti welcomed the municipal revision, highlighting their work with the council to restrict temporary food and drink service. The associations distinguish events connected with local history and products from initiatives which, in their view, compete with restaurants without bearing the same costs.

The amendment had been approved by the council on 29 October through resolution 110. The updated text, which gives an effective date of 16 November 2024, distinguishes sagre from other festivals: the former require a defining product and information about ingredients’ origins; the latter are limited to eight dishes, including side dishes but excluding drinks. These are provisions of the historical text cited, rather than a 2026 update of the rules.

Gabriella Orlando and Andrea Biondi, who signed the statement, sought a balance between promoting the area, community associations and restaurants. Their position is a trade-sector assessment: it does not document offences by individual organisers.