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HQ Sustainable Shrimp and Tilapia Certified By ACC
"HQ Sustainable is one of only a handful of tilapia producers in the world to receive this certification," said William R. More, ACC vice president and director, referring to the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards for tilapia developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance.
Mr. More explained that compliance with BAP standards is becoming essential to many retail and food service buyers such as Wal-Mart, who are now requiring that their seafood providers meet independent, third-party qualification to ensure product quality. "We congratulate HQS on this achievement and for leading the industry by example. We encourage consumers to look for ACC-certified aquaculture products as a measure of security and peace of mind," Mr. More concluded.
Norbert Sporns, president and CEO of HQS, added, "HQ Sustainable's commitment to quality must be part of an industry-wide effort to educate the public to the choices available. The establishment of reliable standards, monitored and certified by influential groups like the ACC, validates our commitment to quality and helps HQS in the rollout of its all natural brands, including 'Lillian's Health Gourmet' and 'TiLoveYa'®, throughout the United States and Europe."
"Sustainable aquaculture practices are environmentally responsible and could help mitigate the potential collapse of ocean fisheries. Aquaculture is already augmenting the global seafood supply and will continue to grow with demand," Mr. Sporns concluded.
The HQ Sustainable grow out facilities and plant in China are certified annually in accordance with U.S. HACCP quality control regulations, as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Economic Community (EU) Code assignment of quality, permitting its products to be sold in these international markets. HQS's nutraceutical plant also has a certification of Chinese Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). In addition, China has developed an advanced quality monitoring standard for aquaculture management for all exported products which has been made even more demanding through recent Food Safety Legislation.
HQ Sustainable uses an all natural method which is now extended to its feed produced in its recently completed feed mill. Prior to harvesting, HQS conducts its own testing in addition to efforts by the China Inspection Quarantine (CIQ), which adhere strictly to the FDA requirements for tilapia. Furthermore, HQS trains its cooperative farmers to meet polyculture all natural standards and monitors these standards rigorously.
TheFishSite News Desk
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