Peer Reviewed Journal via three different mandatory reviewing processes, since 2006, and, from September 2020, a fourth mandatory peer-editing has been added.
The current European Food Hygiene Legislation makes the control and monitoring of all bivalve molluscs (BM) classified production areas mandatory in order to ensure the compliance of the product. Whenever the results of the controls highlight non-compliance, the Local Veterinary Competent Authority (LVCA) issues a measure to limit or suspend harvesting activities in the involved production area. Therefore, it is essential for LVCA accessing to updated information in near real time on sanitary status, laboratory test results and spatial distribution of production areas. In the framework of a project financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (n. 04/INP/20/VE), three Information Technology (IT) tools have been developed to aid the LVCA in their daily control activities. The developed IT tools also indirectly help to ensure a safe product for the end consumer, because they support food safety control activities. Moreover, the open access to information regarding these systematic controls will enhance the consumers’ trust in the local product increasing its value on the market.