Deregulation puts more emphasis on inspection INSPECTION OF perishable goods during the stuffing process into the container is an essential operation to ensure the quality of the products have been maintained while in cold storage.
This is a step taken further after the normal PPECB examination, says Fernando Abelho, Bureau Veritas sales and admin manager of their International Trade Division.
BV is present during the stuffing of the container and inspects not only the condition of the container but also the quality and quantity of the product being loaded, he says.
While in most cases the product will not have degraded excessively over two days in cold storage, it does happen that the product inspected by PPECB is marginal as to whether or not the maturity level is suitable for export at the time of inspection.
By re-inspecting the product during loading the exporter is assured that the product is loaded in good order By re-inspecting the product during loading the exporter is assured that the product is loaded in good order and minimal losses will occur during transport. Should any discrepancies be found at discharge, BV can arrange for a destination inspection, thus making sure that any claims from buyers are legitimate. All fresh fruit and vegetables are subject to PPECB inspection one or two days prior to container stuffing. The container is then inspected by them when it arrives for stuffing. It is at that stage that BV steps in to ensure quality standards.
Abelho points out that in the past exporters could rely on assistance of the two marketing arms of the fresh produce industry for support. But due to deregulation of the industry, and with the number of individual exporters increasing dramatically, newcomers are being thrown in at the deep end, and this is where his company plays such a vital role.
This, he says, is particularly true for ensuring that the loading and shipping of perishable products is carried out in a manner that will not adversely affect their cargo, and this is the function BV performs.
The industry is following the same trends that have been present in the bulk grain sector for years, says Abelho.
Even though bulk grains, such as maize, are inspected and tested prior to shipment by PPECB, BV has for years been involved in performing quality and quantity inspection of these products.
This is because while PPECB ensures that the cargo meets export requirements, BV ensures that the cargo meets both international and the clients' specific standards which arise from the deregulated market.
