Starting from 1 October 2025, all medium Italian companies will have to be insured against natural catastrophes. After numerous postponements, also for these companies the expiry of the obligation of the catastrophic policy has arrived, a rule that dates back to the 2024 budget law but whose entry into force has been continuously extended.
In March it was touched on large companies, which in many cases had already activated insurance of this type. By the end of the year it will be the turn of small and micro enterprises, even if we have already begun to talk about a further extension. The economic risks of these delays, however, are enormous.
The deadline for the catastrophic policy of medium enterprises
September 30 is the last day available for medium -sized enterprises to secure against catastrophes. In fact, the obligation to have a catastrophic policy also enters into force from 1 October also for this type of company. Medium enterprises are those with less than 250 employed, but more than 50, an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euros or a total of annual budget not exceeding 43 million euros.
This is the second deadline that is reached, after that of March 31 for large companies, as part of the standard introduced with the Budget Law of 2024, which requires all companies a catastrophic policy. During the following months, entrepreneurs’ associations obtained continuous extensions for these dates, claiming that the costs are too huge.
When it is up to small and micro enterprises
Large companies were already mostly insured against natural catastrophes, while among the SMEs only 7% was covered in 2024. The obligation will also extend to small and micro companies starting from 2026. This category also includes the studies of freelancers or small operators, who are among the companies that have complained more often than this imposition.
Yet, according to a study performed by MUP Researchthe SMEs are more exposed to the damage caused by natural disasters. In Italy there are 4.5 million companies with less than 250 employees. Of these, in 2024, 278 thousand have undergone damage for adverse or earthquake atmospheric events. The estimated economic losses are total 3 billion euros.
If often, in cases of great calamities, it is the state that intervene, public aids struggle to get to all entrepreneurs, as evidenced by the case of the flood in Emilia Romagna. An insurance policy, on the contrary, guarantees immediate coverage.
What is a company that does not ensure itself
In the norm that establishes the obligation of a catastrophic policy, no fines are foreseen for those who do not respect the deadlines. However, other sanctions are included. Companies that do not ensure themselves against natural disasters risk not being able to access subsidies, concessions and subsidies, and also to have problems in accessing credit.
The costs of catastrophic policies are very variable and depend on the risks of the territory in which the company is located. The Facile.it website, however, estimated that, for a restaurant worth 300 thousand euros, the annual prize may vary between 340 and 470 euros.
