Active bromine-containing solutions are produced and stabilized by reacting bromate and bromide salt solutions with an amino-complexing agent, such as sulfamic acid or sulfamate salt. The reaction is performed at a pH of less than 1 to create a complexed hypobromate. The pH of the active bromine-containing solution is raised to between 4 and 10 by adding an alkali to improve stability. Moreover, the solution is maintained below 30.degree. C. during the alkali addition to retain bromine equivalent activity.