HQ Sustainable Receives Certification for Tilapia

HQ Sustainable Maritime Industries Inc., which is involved in all-natural integrated aquaculture and aquatic product processing, including fish by-product personal healthcare products, has announced that its tilapia grow-out operations as well as its processing plant operations for tilapia in its wholly owned, Hainan-based subsidiary Hainan Quebec Ocean Fishing Co. Ltd., have been certified by Moody International Certification Ltd., as in conformity with the GLOBALGAP Tilapia Standard recently launched in April 2009, making HQS the first company to be certified to this standard.

Globalgap is a private sector body that sets voluntary standards for the certification of production processes of agricultural (including aquaculture) products around the globe. These standards are primarily designed to reassure consumers about how food is produced on the farm by minimising detrimental environmental impacts of farming operations, reducing the use of chemical inputs and ensuring a responsible approach to worker health and safety as well as animal welfare.

Globalgap is a global partnership of voluntary members, bringing together like-minded parties with the shared vision of harmonising Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P.) worldwide. Retail membership includes, Aeon, Ahold, Aldi, Asda, Coop CH, Delhaize, Edeka, Globus, Metro, Migros, Norma, Wegmans, E. Leclerc, McDonalds, Sysco, US Food Service, Tesco, Carrefour and Marks & Spencer as well as many other major retailers throughout the world.

"We congratulate HQ Sustainable on becoming the first company to achieve our new tilapia standards. These standards are designed to reassure consumers about how food is produced. HQS' Tilapia meets these high standards providing in addition to food safety, a responsible framework to worker health and the environment," said Dr Kristian Moeller, Managing Director and Secretary of Globalgap.

Norbert Sporns, president and CEO of HQS, saud: "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 Globalgap Approved Certification Bodies as third party certification system, 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 accounts for a full 50 per cent of global seafood production and all incremental growth in this sector," Mr Sporns added.