QUALITY CONTROL and inspection company Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) has expanded its range of services to include a vehicle testing and veterinary division.
This brings to eleven the number of specialist divisions which the company offers, ranging from agricultural and marine to engineering and environmental.
And the latter is becoming more and more important to South African shippers, according to SGS marketing manager in South Africa, Angel Ramphele, who believes that the green lobby is beginning to take hold in South Africa.
Foreign importers do not want to import South African products which could cause environmental problems for them, Ramphele told FTW.
The SGS Environmental division is structured to meet the demands of modern integrated environmental management cost effectively.
The agricultural division is also a current focus, with services covering the full range required by perishable shippers - inspection and cleanliness to protect against contamination or infestation; supervision of loading and discharge; weight determination; sampling for analysis purposes and quality inspections.
In cases where traders don't necessarily specify top quality, SGS is there to ensure that the goods comply with the specifications of the importer. Ramphele believes that with control boards falling away, this could generate more of a demand for services of this nature.
Ramphele, who took over as marketing manager of SGS three years ago, studied law and holds a masters degree in maritime studies. He practised as a marine underwriter for six years before joining SGS.
