Want to enter the United States through Visa Waiver Program but consulate-issued ePassport doesn't have a chip

I'm an Italian citizen living in Venezuela. The Italian consulate here in my city issues ePassports and claims that these are valid for entry to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program; however, I have noticed the passport does not have an electronic chip even though it does have the ePassport symbol on the cover. I have checked with fellow Italians who also got their passports there, and their passports don't have chips either.

I don't know if this is normal for a consulate, but I want to know if this could present any problems when attempting to enter the United States using this passport, before trying to get ESTA authorization.