Italy has made satisfactory progress in controlling cases of mozzarella cheese found contaminated by cancer-causing dioxins and is not facing any EU trade ban at this stage, the European Commission said on Friday.

"The Commission is satisfied with the progress made and continues its intensive contacts with the Italian authorities," Nina Papadoulaki, the Commission's health spokeswoman, told a daily news conference. "Taking into account the information that was given today, there is no reason at this stage to take further action at EU level," she said.