Natural seawater has long been used by the trade for keeping live seafood. In order to enhance the quality of fish tank water at source and throughout the whole supply chain, the Food and Health Bureau (FHB) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has initiated a voluntary Quality Seawater Assurance Scheme (QSAS) for seawater suppliers and seafood traders in Hong Kong to encourage self-regulation of the trade. FHB has appointed the Hong Kong Productivity Council as the independent Accrediting Body to develop and implement the scheme.

The objective of the QSAS is to enhance the quality of supplied seawater so as to minimize the risk of contamination of seafood. It also assists seafood traders to have better control of the quality of fish tank water for compliance with the prescribed legal standards.

Under the QSAS, various stakeholders in the seafood trade can apply for two types of accreditation status as shown below:

	(A) The Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier
		A seawater supplier who abstracts, treats, and/or delivers seawater / seafood can apply to become an Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier. An Accreditation Certificate will be issued to successful applicants.
	(B) The Quality Seawater Logo Holder
		There are two types of business establishment that can apply to become a Quality Seawater Logo Holder :
		(i)		Seafood restaurants / sales outlets that utilize seawater from Accredited Quality Seawater Suppliers or prepare their own synthetic seawater using marine salts and tap water;
		(ii)		Accredited Quality Seawater Supplier
		A Quality Seawater Logo will be issued to successful applicants for display in their premises.