Novigrad Mussel becomes 43rd Croatian product protected

“The ‘Novigrad Mussel’ has received the European protected designation of origin, announced by the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union on June 28, 2023, Croatia’s Ministry of Agriculture said today. 

This means that the product name has been entered into the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications, and it is protected throughout the European Union. The EU logo for protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication, which appears on the packaging, guarantees consumers the purchase of an authentic product.

The process of protecting the name ‘Novigrad Mussel’ was initiated by the Association of Shellfish Farmers ‘Novigrad Mussel,’ which submitted an application to the Ministry of Agriculture for the protection of the designation of origin under the name ‘Novigrad Mussel.’

The ‘Novigrad Mussel’ is a Mediterranean mussel species called Mytilus galloprovincialis, cultivated in farms in the Novigrad Sea and Novsko Ždrilo, between the Novigrad Sea and the Velebit Channel, on Croatia’s coast.

The shell of the ‘Novigrad Mussel’ has a fan-shaped, triangular, or elongated-oval shape. The body is enclosed by two equal shells, externally black-blueish in color, and internally pale pearly. 

The length of the longest part of a consumable-sized shellfish is at least 6 cm, while the minimum weight of a shellfish is 20 g. The ‘Novigrad Mussel’ is particularly known for its high condition index, which refers to the amount of meat occupying the space within the shells. For consumable mussels, the minimum condition index is at least 12%.

Fresh meat of the ‘Novigrad Mussel’ is smooth to the touch, with a soft and elastic consistency, and it carries a characteristic scent of the sea and marine algae. The surface of the meat is shiny, moist, and smooth. The color of the ‘Novigrad Mussel’ meat depends on the gender of the individual shellfish. Male mussels are generally milky-white or cream-colored, while female mussels are orange-red.

Croatia now has 43 products with the European protected designation of origin. They are: Novigradska dagnja“, Krčki pršut, Ekstra djevičansko maslinovo ulje Cres, Neretvanska mandarina, Ogulinsko kiselo zelje / Ogulinski kiseli kupus, Baranjski kulen, Lički krumpir, Istarski pršut / Istrski pršut, Drniški pršut, Dalmatinski pršut, Poljički soparnik / Poljički zeljanik / Poljički uljenjak, Zagorski puran, Krčko maslinovo ulje, Korčulansko maslinovo ulje, Paška janjetina, Šoltansko maslinovo ulje, Varaždinsko zelje, Slavonski kulen / Slavonski kulin, Međimursko meso ‘z tiblice, Slavonski med, Lička janjetina, Istra, Paška sol, Zagorski mlinci, Paški sir, Bjelovarski kvargl, Brački varenik, Varaždinski klipič, Malostonska kamenica, Rudarska greblica, Dalmatinska pečenica, Dalmatinska panceta, Lički škripavac, Bračko maslinovo ulje, Zagorski bagremov med, Zagorski štrukli / Zagorski štruklji, Meso istarskog goveda – boškarina / Meso istrskega goveda – boškarina, Samoborska češnjovka / Samoborska češnofka, Lumblija, Goranski medun, Dalmatinska janjetina, Slavonska kobasica and Komiški rogač.