In a move designed to assist the fruit industry in the export certification and verification process, Fruit SA has unveiled a newly developed eCert online certification platform.
“This means creating systems that enable the export certification process to become paperless while giving the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development greater visibility about product along the supply chain. “Overall this is expected to reduce costs of certification, help with resource planning, improve phytosanitary compliance and improve phytosanitary risk management,” Fruit SA chief executive Fhumulani Ratshitanga said ahead of the departure of a delegaton to Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Germany.
Fruit SA, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), will send 25 companies to the trade show which will be held from 5-7 February.
“The South African fruit industry is export-oriented with more than 60% of the fruit types under the Fruit SA umbrella exported to more than 90 countries, and this requires that the industry continually grows, retains and optimises markets for its products,” said Ratshitanga.
“The interest is not only on Germany but all of Europe.”
