December 26, 2007

HQ Sustainable, first to be certified by aquaculture council

HQ Sustainable Maritime Industries announced that its China-based processing plant operations for tilapia and shrimp have been certified by the Aquaculture Certification Council, Inc. (ACC).

This makes HQ as the first major tilapia producer in the world to receive the certification, said William R. More, ACC vice president and director.

More explained that ACC standards are becoming essential to retail and food service buyers such as Wal-Mart, which are now requiring seafood providers to meet independent, third-party qualification to ensure product quality.

The HQ Sustainable plant in China is certified annually in accordance with US HACCP quality control regulations, as required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Economic Community Code (EU) Code assignment of quality, permitting its products to be sold in these international markets.

The Aquaculture Certification Council, Inc. is a nongovernmental body established to certify social, environmental and food safety standards at aquaculture facilities throughout the world.

ACC currently certifies tilapia processing plants, shrimp hatcheries, farms and processing plants.