AquaHarvest Farms (Pty) Ltd Business Plan › Section 22 › Quality Assurance & Food Safety

22.1 HACCP Certification

AquaHarvest will implement a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety management system from the outset of operations, with formal certification targeted by Month 18. The HACCP plan will be developed in accordance with the Codex Alimentarius HACCP guidelines and South African National Standard SANS 10049. The system will cover all stages of the production and handling chain from harvest through processing, packaging, cold storage, and distribution.

Critical Control Points (CCPs) identified for tilapia production include:

• CCP 1 – Water Quality: Continuous monitoring of production water for microbiological contaminants, heavy metals, and agricultural chemical residues

• CCP 2 – Harvest Handling: Temperature control during harvest to maintain cold chain integrity (target: <4°C within 2 hours of harvest)

• CCP 3 – Processing Hygiene: Sanitation of processing surfaces, equipment, and personnel; microbiological testing of finished products

• CCP 4 – Cold Chain Integrity: Continuous temperature monitoring during storage and distribution (target: 0–4°C for fresh; <-18°C for frozen)

22.2 Traceability System

A batch-level traceability system will be implemented, enabling full farm-to-fork tracking of all products. Each harvest batch will be assigned a unique lot number linked to production pond/RAS module, stocking date, feed batch, water quality records, veterinary treatments, harvest date, and processing records. This traceability system will be supported by enterprise resource planning (ERP) software integrated with barcode/QR code labelling on all product packaging.

22.3 Third-Party Certifications

In addition to HACCP, the Company will pursue the following certifications to enhance market access and consumer confidence:

• SABS Mark: South African Bureau of Standards product certification for compliance with national quality standards

• Global G.A.P.: International farm assurance certification for good agricultural practices, required by many export markets and premium retailers

• ASC Certification: Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification (targeted Year 3–4) for access to sustainability-conscious export markets and premium retail channels

• Halaal Certification: South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) certification to access the Muslim consumer market (estimated 3–5% of domestic demand)

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