The determination of biogenic amines in fresh and processed foods is getting of great interest not only for their potential risk for human health but also because in nonfermented food they could have a role as markers of microbial contamination or ripening. During manufacturing of dry-cured and cooked meat products,pH, temperature and salt concentration are key factors in affecting microbial growth and related enzymatic reactions. Though the release of peptides and FAAs in dry-cured ham was mainly attributed to endogenous enzymatic systems,the decarboxylation of FAAs to BAs is catalysed either by muscle or microbial enzymes. Low-salty, typical Italian dry-cured ham showed remarkable differences as to composition traits if compared to other European dry-cured hams with particular reference, on average, to a higher moisture content; furthermore, a microbial contribution to FAA decarboxylation may be postulated for Italian dry-cured ham, because both the salt-tolerant Micrococcaceae and bacteria belonging to the genera Lactococci, Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium and Carnobacterium were isolated inside ham muscles.