Farming of fish and shellfish

‘Sustainable Aquaculture’ National Quality System

The technical regulation lays down the requirements that aquaculture production businesses farming fish and bivalve shellfish must meet in order to be covered by the National Animal Husbandry Quality Scheme [Regime di Qualità Nazionale Zootecnia, RQN] established by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies [MIPAAF] by means of Ministerial Decree No 4337 of 4 March 2011. The regulation therefore applies to aquaculture species (fish and shellfish) in compliance with the National Animal Husbandry Quality Scheme.

The technical regulation governs all stages of production, from farming (starting from the entry of fry in the case of fish and starting from the acceptance of juveniles in the case of bivalve shellfish) up to the stages of aquaculture products that are identified using the National Quality System markers being placed on the market.