Ray Smuts IF SHIPPING lines think they are in for an easy ride in seeking exemption from competition laws they have another think coming as the fruit industry is not about to meekly stand by and allow it to happen. (See story on page 16) The Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum is seeking legal opinion on the matter according to CEO Stuart Symington.”We will not take it lying down. It’s nothing new for an organisation like ours to challenge what needs to be challenged. “No commercial organisation should be above the law. If the competition commission has been brought into South African society to apply to everybody then it should be so and it’s one way of keeping the playing fields level.” Symington suspects the rand’s performance, which has really “caned” exports, could be linked to the shipping lines’ initiative. “If you look at it from their perspective they have put in a lot of orders for new container ships and if the exchange rate continues on its present path they are going to see a dramatic reduction in export volumes.” Symington intends approaching the Exporters’ Forum chairman to ensure the board “supports the resistance to any exemption by the competitions commission.”
