Standards and regulations
must be adhered to
ALAN PEAT
CORRECT PACKAGING is a vital factor in ensuring that export goods arrive safely at their destinations, according to Greg Mitchell, owner of Mitchell Packers.
“Cell phones, celery or 22ton machinery, it doesn’t matter what,” he said, “you have to pack it properly so it arrives safely.”
It’s what the article is, and where it’s going, that dictates the packaging, Mitchell added.
“Wood, cardboard, bubble wrap, foam packing, insulation - all options used to suit the nature of the goods transported.”
There are also local and international packaging standards and regulations which have to be adhered to if an article is to be properly packed, Mitchell told FTW.
“For example, there are clauses in marine insurance which cover packaging and which tell you that, if you don’t pack it correctly, they won’t pay in the event of a claim.”
In wooden boxes, for example, there are also regulations around the world which demand effective wood treatment.
“Send a cargo in wooden boxes to Australia, and you have to ensure that it is effectively fumigated,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell Packers is currently based in Johannesburg, but the company intends expanding its area of operations - with branches due to open in Durban this year and Cape Town next year.
