existing home inspections – HQ Sustainable Maritime Tilapia Farming
<p>SEATTLE, WA–(Marketwire – November 2, 2009) – HQ Sustainable Maritime Industries, Inc. (NYSE Amex: HQS) ("HQS" or the "Company"), a leader in all natural integrated aquaculture and aquatic product processing, including fish byproduct personal healthcare products, today 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.</p> <p>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 minimizing 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.</p> <p>GLOBALGAP is a global partnership of voluntary members, bringing together like-minded parties with the shared vision of harmonizing Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P.) world-wide. 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.</p> <p>"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 GLOBALGAP.</p> <p>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 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."</p> <p>"Sustainable aquaculture practices are environmentally responsible and could help mitigate the potential collapse of ocean fisheries. Aquaculture accounts for a full 50% of global seafood production and all incremental growth in this sector," Mr. Sporns concluded.</p> <p>About GLOBALGAP</p> <p>The challenge of globalising markets is nowhere greater than in the primary food sector. GLOBALGAP (formerly known as EUREPGAP) has established itself as a key reference for Good Agricultural Practices (G.A.P.) in the global market place, by translating consumer requirements into agricultural production in a rapidly growing list of countries — currently more than 80 on every continent.</p> <p>– GLOBALGAP is a private sector body that sets voluntary standards for<br /> the certification of production processes of agricultural (including<br /> aquaculture) products around the globe. The aim is to establish ONE<br /> standard for Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P.) with different product<br /> applications capable of fitting to the whole of global agriculture.<br /> <br />– GLOBALGAP is a pre-farm-gate standard, which means that the<br /> certificate covers the process of the certified product from farm inputs<br /> like feed or seedlings and all the farming activities until the product<br /> leaves the farm. GLOBALGAP is a business-to-business label and is therefore<br /> not directly visible to consumers.<br /> <br />– GLOBALGAP certification is carried out by more than 100 independent<br /> and accredited certification bodies in more than 80 countries. It is open<br /> to all producers worldwide.<br /> <br />– GLOBALGAP includes annual existing home inspections of the producers and additional<br /> unannounced existing home inspections.<br /> <br />– GLOBALGAP consists of a set of normative documents. These documents<br /&
