Controllo igienico-sanitario nella filiera dei prodotti ittici : La direttiva 91/493 CE

The growing trend of the fish product consumption has determined the increase of fishing activity, aquaculture production and has caused a more extended importation from European Community countries and from Third Countries. In this framework the quality problem related to nutritional, organoleptic and hygienic aspects of saleable fish products is of primary importance. This work shows that proper treatment and storage, as well as a correct hygienic control through the whole production chain, are necessary to protect nutritional and organoleptic value of the products and to assure theirsafe use. Such proper treatment and hygienic control of course are prerequisite not only for fish to be consumed fresh, but also for sea products which undergo transformation in the food industry. Such type of control is already applied in the Italian Food Industry according to EC Directive 89/397 on Official Food Control and EC Directive 93/43 on Hygiene of Food Products that is under acceptance in Italy. Regarding fish products the hygienic control through the whole production chain is provided in the EC Directive 91/493, accepted with the Legislative Decree 531/92 concerning the Sanitary Regulations for Fish Product Production and Marketing.