Musumeci vows action following the death of an 11-year-old girl at a swimming pool in Sestri Levante.Italy's government is seeking to speed up long-delayed legislation on swimming pool safety, after a series of drownings involving children reignited pressure for action.Nello Musumeci, minister for civil protection and sea policies, said the death of Alice, an 11-year-old girl sucked into a pool drain at Sestri Levante, highlighted the pressing need to make public and private swimming pools safe in Italy, without exception. He noted that five children had died in pools over the previous three months alone, and called for strict rules alongside greater caution from parents in not leaving children unattended in the water. Musumeci said the government's bill would be cleared by the relevant parliamentary committee within the month, and pledged to push for it to be given urgent priority for debate. The legislation, a framework law "for health and safety in swimming pools", was presented by the government last August, but has been stuck in the chamber of deputies' social affairs committee since February. Musumeci co-signed the proposal with health minister Orazio Schillaci, and has acknowledged the delay, saying a tougher law is needed after this summer given that the bill has been stalled in parliament for a year. The report accompanying the bill estimates between 30 and 40 drownings occur in Italy each year, with more than half of victims being children, though the figures have been disputed by industry operators - the head of pool operators' association Assopiscine reportedly cited 37 deaths across 2024 and 2025 combined. What the bill proposes The draft law aims to set minimum safety, technical, hygiene and management requirements for pools, along with checks and penalties for non-compliance. It would leave in place stricter existing rules for facilities already subject to more comprehensive regulation, such as sporting venues or thermal pools, which would fall outside its scope. One of its notable innovations is the introduction of specific regulation for domestic pools, requiring the use of dedicated safety devices to prevent accidental entry into the water. The bill also seeks to tighten internal controls at facilities. Under the proposed text, pool operators would be required to close a facility and promptly notify the relevant local health authority whenever internal checks reveal a non-compliance that could pose a risk to users' health. Pools would additionally have to be regularly maintained and fitted with protective devices to ensure hygiene and safety standards, preventing domestic accidents and drowning risks, including at least one lifebuoy for every 100 square metres of surface area or part thereof, and either an impassable safety barrier or a rigid load-bearing cover.

Italy's government is seeking to speed up long-delayed legislation on swimming pool safety, after a series of drownings involving children reignited pressure for action. Nello Musumeci, minister for civil protection and sea policies, said the death of Alice, an 11-year-old girl sucked into a pool drain at Sestri Levante, highlighted the pressing need to make public and private swimming pools safe in Italy, without exception. He noted that five children had died in pools over the previous three months alone, and called for strict rules alongside greater caution from parents in not leaving children unattended in the water. Musumeci said the government's bill would be cleared by the relevant parliamentary committee within the month, and pledged to push for it to be given urgent priority for debate. The legislation, a framework law "for health and safety in swimming pools", was presented by the government last August, but has been stuck in the chamber of deputies' social affairs committee since February. Musumeci co-signed the proposal with health minister Orazio Schillaci, and has acknowledged the delay, saying a tougher law is needed after this summer given that the bill has been stalled in parliament for a year. The report accompanying the bill estimates between 30 and 40 drownings occur in Italy each year, with more than half of victims being children, though the figures have been disputed by industry operators - the head of pool operators' association Assopiscine reportedly cited 37 deaths across 2024 and 2025 combined. The draft law aims to set minimum safety, technical, hygiene and management requirements for pools, along with checks and penalties for non-compliance. It would leave in place stricter existing rules for facilities already subject to more comprehensive regulation, such as sporting venues or thermal pools, which would fall outside its scope. One of its notable innovations is the introduction of specific regulation for domestic pools, requiring the use of dedicated safety devices to prevent accidental entry into the water. The bill also seeks to tighten internal controls at facilities. Under the proposed text, pool operators would be required to close a facility and promptly notify the relevant local health authority whenever internal checks reveal a non-compliance that could pose a risk to users' health. Pools would additionally have to be regularly maintained and fitted with protective devices to ensure hygiene and safety standards, preventing domestic accidents and drowning risks, including at least one lifebuoy for every 100 square metres of surface area or part thereof, and either an impassable safety barrier or a rigid load-bearing cover.