Italy's top administrative court upholds Eni appeal against biofuel fine

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's highest administrative court on Wednesday upheld an appeal by Eni against a 5 million euro ($5.3 million) antitrust fine imposed over the marketing of fuel, the Italian energy group said in a statement.

The antitrust authority had taken aim at an advertising campaign for Eni Diesel+ fuel in 2020, questioning whether it overstated the environmental benefit of the green component consisting of a percentage of hydrogenated biofuel blended into diesel.

The Council of State, Italy's top administrative court, definitively ruled that Eni had not implemented any unfair commercial practice to the detriment of consumers, the energy company said.

The Eni statement also summarised the court's opinion, which recognised green claims can be used "even in relation to products that are to some extent polluting, but which have less impact on the environment than others".

($1 = 0.9358 euros)

(Reporting by Matteo Negri; Editing by Keith Weir)