No, cannibalism is illegal in Italy under the Penal Code (Art. 579-580), criminalized as homicide or mutilation. Consent does not negate liability, and penalties range from 21 years to life imprisonment. The 2026 draft of the Codice Penale Riformato tightens penalties for “extreme bodily harm,” explicitly targeting ritualistic or survival-based acts. Local prosecutors in Rome and Milan have invoked public order statutes in recent cases involving self-harm or consensual acts.
Key Regulations for Cannibalism in Italy
- Penal Code (Art. 579-580): Prohibits homicide and mutilation, with penalties escalating for premeditated or consensual acts. Consent is legally irrelevant under Italian jurisprudence (Cassazione, Sez. I, 2020).
- Public Order Decree (D.Lgs. 159/2011): Empowers local prefects to intervene in cases threatening public safety, including self-harm or extremist rituals, with administrative detention possible.
- 2026 Penal Code Reform: Expands “extreme bodily harm” to include non-fatal but severe self-inflicted injuries, with mandatory psychiatric evaluation and potential civil commitment under Legge Basaglia (L. 180/1978).