There is an increase in requests for certification and inspection of commodities – in particular from importers and exporters using Walvis and Lüderitz Bay, according to Jean-Michel Perret, Bureau Veritas government services director for the southern Africa district.This trend supports reports from the port authorities that there has been growth in the volumes of commodities moving through both ports. While Lüderitz is concentrating on handling manganese, Walvis Bay has attracted sulphur and other chemicals used by the mining industry in the Copperbelt.According to Perret, Bureau Veritas provides a dedicated service to the Namibian freight forwarding and logistics sectors. This includes the full range of Bureau Veritas services – from inspection and audit, to testing, analysis and certification.There is a big focus on safety, with the company inspecting and certifying bulk and container facilities, including lifting equipment such as forklifts and cranes. “We certify companies to the highest standards in terms of Quality Management (ISO 9001:2015), or Health & Safety (ISO 45001:2018), or Environment (ISO 14001:2015), and even Information Security Management (ISO 27001:2013),” he told Freight News. The commercial risk to importers and companies using the commodities is minimised by testing of the materials, which can be done pre-shipment, on loading and at discharge. Tallying and visual inspection of cargo in containers or bulk covers, as well as bulk chemicals, are among the services provided by the company in Namibia. With the potential of Namibian agricultural exports, there is a greater need for agricultural testing and certification, including testing of fertilisers. Bureau Veritas provided testing services from farm to fork, said Perret.
