Mussel farming, Dioxin risk persists in Taranto

Following the detection of dioxin and PCB-DL levels well above the legal limits in mussels farmed in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto since 2016, the extraordinary sanitary measures to control the risk of dioxin and PCB-DL in fish production in the areas concerned have been extended for a further 36 months. The President of the Region of Apulia, following the results of the regular monitoring carried out by the local health authorities of Taranto, ordered that the movement of farmed fish products must be subject to authorisation by the control authority and to verification that the levels of dioxins and PCBs are within the legal limits. It also ordered the seizure and destruction of fish products that do not comply with the provisions of the decree issued in 2021, which is still in force. The objective of these provisions is to safeguard public health and guarantee the sustainability of shellfish farming in the affected marine areas.