Made in Italy, organic mussels and clams saved by the dark EU

Italian mussels and clams raised mostly in the Po Delta area with this method ran the risk of losing the organic label, avoiding a depreciation of 10-15%.

In fact, a Community regulation that entered into force at the beginning of the year contains water classification parameters that could cause the loss of recognition to productions that are worth a total of over 1.5 million euros.

A decree signed by the undersecretary Mipaaf, Francesco Battistoni, was therefore necessary, who, while respecting the European dictates, made it possible to protect these productions without prejudice to the constant examination of the state of health of the waters where they are raised.

An escaped danger informs ANSA Fedagripesca-Confcooperative that it has fought to save these productions, about 1.5 million kg of Scardovari mussels and just over 25 thousand tons of Goro clams for a value of 270 thousand euros.

"Due to the fact that our molluscs are brought to the enclosure to remove the sand, a delicate production system, organic by nature, has been jeopardized", explains Vadis Paesanti, the producer from Goro and vice president of Fedagripesca-Confcooperative Emilia Romagna.

"Losing the organic recognition - specifies the commercial director of the Consortium of fishermen cooperatives of Polesine in Scardovari in Veneto Gabriele Siviero - would have meant not only disqualifying our products but also putting exports at risk. 'Italy, 60% of Scardovari's organic mussel is destined for France, which appreciates the quality of the meat that the waters of these parts can give it and for its size ".

This is a guarantee not only for producers but also for consumers, given that 6 out of 7 Italians are willing to pay a little more to buy organic fish products, as a Fedagripesca survey reveals.