What is a Specific Instance?
A specific instance is a request for intervention submitted to a National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct of the OECD network initiated by an interested party (individuals, associations, NGOs, trade unions or other stakeholders) may initiate a non-judicial procedure against a multinational enterprise, alleging non-compliance with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational enterprises.
Although it does not constitute judicial proceedings and does not involve financial or legal sanctions, it represents a formal, government-backed mechanism for resolving disputes through dialogue and mediation.
The Italian NCP handles specific instances submitted against Italian multinational enterprises operating abroad that are alleged to have caused or contributed to adverse impacts on human rights or in other areas covered by the Guidelines.
The procedure At a Glance
Submission
A specific instance is submitted to the NCP using the designated form, which must be completed and sent to:
Initial assessment
The NCP carries out a preliminary assessment to determine whether the issue deserves further examination, verifying its relevance to the OECD Guidelines and the credibility of the information provided.
Good offices and mediation
If the case is deemed admissible, the NCP facilitates dialogue between the parties with the aim of reaching a mutually agreed solution.
Conclusion
At the end of the mediation procedure, the NCP publishes a final statement outlining its conclusions, any recommendations addressed to the company, and, where applicable, the outcome of the dialogue between the parties.
Follow-up
Where an agreement is reached, the parties meet again within a set timeframe to assess subsequent developments.
The NCP is available to companies and stakeholders for clarifications regarding the procedure.
Procedures Manual for handling specific instances (pdf) – Italian NCP
Form (doc - in Italian, translation in progress)
See also
- OECD documentation on handling specific instances.
- OECD NCP network for responsible business conduct and resources.
Specific Instances submitted at the Italian NCP
Ongoing cases
- Association / Steel sector company – (19 December 2023) – Initial assessment ongoing.
- Association / Textile and clothing companies – (26 April 2023) – Initial assessment ongoing.
- Association / Banking group – (15 September 2025) – Good offices offered, ongoing.
- Association / Biomedical sector company – (24 April 2026) – Initial assessment ongoing.
Cases concluded by the Italian NCP
- Dini-Saltalamacchia et al. / ENI S.p.A. – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2026)
- Greenpeace / ENI S.p.A. – Final declaration (2026)
- LLA / Golden Traslochi S.r.l. – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2025)
- Rete Legalità per il Clima (RLC) et al. / Cremonini S.p.A. – Final declaration (2025)
- Rete Legalità per il Clima (RLC) / Veronesi Holding S.p.A. – Final declaration (2025)
- Communications Workers of America (CWA) et al. / EssilorLuxottica S.p.A. – Final statement (2021)
- Rete Legalità per il Clima / ENI S.p.A. – Final agreement report (2022); Follow-up meeting outcomes (09/07/2025)
- Survival International Italia ETS / Conceria Pasubio S.p.A. – Final declaration – Pasubio commitment (2022)
- Magna Pax Law Partners on behalf of Ikeinghenbiri Community / ENI International S.p.A. – Report (2020)
- FIOM-CGIL / N.V. Bekaert S.A. and Bekaert Figline S.p.A. – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2020)
- Ali Enterprises Factory Fire Affectees Association (AEFFAA) et al. / RINA Services S.p.A. – Initial assessment; Final statement; Follow-up report (2018)
- Lady Lawyer Foundation / Intesa Sanpaolo – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2019)
- FIOM-CGIL / Ball Beverage Packaging Italia S.r.l. – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2019)
- FIOM-CGIL / N.V. Bekaert S.A. and Bekaert Figline S.p.A. – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2018)
- Chima Williams & Associates (CWA) et al. / ENI S.p.A. – NCP Report; Terms of the Agreement; Follow-up report (2017)
- FIDH et al. / Italtel S.p.A. – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2017)
- Survival International Italia / Salini Impregilo S.p.A. – Initial assessment; Final statement (2016)
- Individual / Financial institution (1/3) – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2016)
- Individual / Financial institution (2/3) – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2016)
- Individual / Financial institution (3/3) – Initial assessment- Conclusive (2016)
- Douglas Linares Flinto / ENI S.p.A. – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2015)
- FIOM-CGIL / EATON S.r.l. – Final Declaration (2011)
- Trade unions / Construction sector company (India) – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2007)
- Trade unions / Automotive sector company (India) – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2007)
- Trade unions / German tech manufacturing company in Italy – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2007)
- Trade unions / Manufacturing company (China) – Initial assessment - Conclusive (2005)
Support provided by the Italian NCP to other NCPs
- Chile NCP: Biomedical sector company (2026) – Initial assessment - ongoing
- Hungary NCP: NGO / banking sector companies (2023) – Initial assessment - ongoing
- Netherlands NCP: Law firm Dini-Saltalamacchia et al. / Stellantis N.V. and FCA Italy S.p.A. (2022) – Initial assessment (2023) – Final Declaration (2026)
- Brazil NCP: Douglas Linares Flinto / ENI S.p.A. – Ongoing procedure (2020)
- Argentina NCP: Ms. Flavia Di Cino / Tenaris S.A. – Final Declaration (2019)
- Brazil NCP: Douglas Linares Flinto / Energy multinational operating in Brazil – Initial Assessment - Conclusive - (2018)
- UK NCP: CRUDE ACCOUNTABILITY et al. / KPO Consortium companies in Kazakhstan - Final Declaration (2013)
- UK NCP: Azerbaijan–Georgia–Turkey pipeline project – Link to documentation (2003)