Shiatsu in Italy

The status of Shiatsu in Italy is complex and constantly evolving, characterized by several key aspects.

Law 4/2013 and Unregulated Practice

To date, there is no specific law formally regulating or recognising Shiatsu as a professional field.

The only governing legislation is Law 4/2013, which regulates professions that are not organized into official registers or professional boards. However, this law does not make membershipin a professional association mandatory.

As a result, the practice of Shiatsu remains open. Paradoxically, anyone who completes a course (or even reads a training textbook can advertise as a practitioner and legally operate, provided they comply with tax regulations. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that an increasing number of organizations and facilities now require certificates issued by accredited professional bodies.

Professional associations operating under Law 4/2013 are required to adhere to strict organizational and transparency standards.

Ministerial Developments

In the past, associations meeting specific requirements could register with the former MiSE (Ministry of Economic Development) and issue their members a Certificate of Quality and Professional Qualification of Services. Today, the ministry has become MIMIT (Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy), and the registration criteria have been restructured to include organizations with training standards less stringent than historical benchmarks.

The 2025 ATECO Turning Point

In 2025, ISTAT (the Italian National Institute of Statistics), aligned with European NACE codes, introduced the new ATECO 2025 classification. This milestone has ensured greater fiscal and statistical visibility to the sector through two specific codes explicitly mentioning Shiatsu:

•86.99.01 for Shiatsu practitioners

•85.59.99 for Shiatsu teachers

Unfortunately, this long-awaited recognition has also resulted in a higher tax burden for Shiatsu practitioners who chose to adopt this classification.

Synergy Among Associations

In 2024, the Professione Shiatsu project was established with the aim of establishing an inter-association among the most representative organizations in Italy: APOS, COS, and FISIEO. This collaboration pursues two primary objectives:

1. The protection and promotion of high-quality Shiatsu.

2. The creation of a single unified voice when engaging with government institutions.

The three associations signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a minimum training curriculum of 650 hours (with plans for a further increase and a training curriculum inspired by the Austrian educational model).

Parliamentary Developments

At the institutional level, two Shiatsu bills are currently pending in Parliament (one from the parliamentary majority and one from the opposition) aimed at recognizing the practitioner's status. In addition to speaking at various conferences, the presidents of the three associations behind Professione Shiatsu held a press conference at the Chamber of Deputies to emphasize the value of the discipline and the need for a regulatory framework. Following several meetings with politicians and parliamentary rapporteurs, the sector is awaiting a joint dialogue to establish a unified position and accelerate thelegislative process.