This chapter is a guide to industry associations and the export councils that
represent the interests of members and can provide some training, coaching and
guidance to prospective exporters of processed fruit, vegetables and nuts.
10.1 South African Fruit and Vegetable Canners Association (SAFVCA)
The association describes itself as a voluntary grouping of fruit and vegetable
canning industry members and its mission is to protect and promote their interests.
SAFVCA covers canned fruit and vegetables, concentrates, juices, jams and
sauces. Its head office is situated in Paarl, Western Cape. For further details and
contacts go to www.safvca.co.za.
10.2 South African Fruit and Vegetable Canners’ Export Council (SAFVCEC)
Linked to SAFVCA, this export council liaises with DAFF and with the Department
of Trade and Industry on international trade issues such as market access, tariffs
and non-tariff barriers. It helps members to participate in selected international
trade fairs and trade missions and represents members where required.
It addresses technical matters concerning exports such as product quality food
safety, regulations concerning packaging, labelling and grading, as well as can/
tin plate specifications and the like. SAFVCEC also coordinates export studies
and market related research. For further information or to contact the council follow
the link through SAFVCA’s website at www.safvca.co.za.
10.3 South African Fruit Juice Association (SAFJA)
This voluntary body represents companies that process, convert and package fruit
juices, concentrates and cordials for the local and export markets. Much of its work
concerns regulation of the industry and the establishment of norms and standards
to engender consumer confidence both here and abroad in South African fruit
juices. SAFJA has associations with similar organisations in Australia and Europe.
For further information go to www.safja.co.za.
10.4 Dried Fruit Technical Services
The DFTS was established to keep the local dried fruit industry abreast of the need
for agricultural research, strategic information on volumes and quality to meet all
sanitary and phytosanitary requirement for local and export marketing to serve the
best interest of the industry as the need arises and keep the National Agricultural
Marketing Council (NAMC) and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
informed on strategic issues. It is authorised to receive and manage the statutory
levy applied on South African dried fruit. It has introduced the Dried Fruit Production
Protocol, which is essentially a HACCP-type quality control system. The DFTS can
be contacted at: retha@hortgro.co.za.
10.5 Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
ARC was established in 1990 and is the principal agricultural research institution
in South Africa. Among the many services that it renders to the agricultural and
agro-business sectors are certain training programmes for producers. For the
sector that this export manual is intended for, the relevant training programmes
are in fruit processing, sub-tropical fruit processing and vegetable processing. A
typical programme for fruit processing covers fruit juice extraction, clarification
and preservation, jam making, and packaging. For further information on ARC’s
services and training programmes visit www.arc.agric.za.
10.6 SA Olive Industry Association
This association represents the common interests of olive growers, olive oil
producers, table olive producers, tree nurseries and olive importers. Since June
2012, SA Olive membership has become compulsory due to the implementation of
the Statutory Measure Memorandum whereby a legislated levy is applied to olives.
The Statutory Measure is applicable to growers, table olive processors, olive oil
processors and table and olive oil importers. For information about this association
go to www.saolive.co.za.
10.7 The South African Macadamia Grower’s Association (SAMAC)
SAMAC comprises macadamia nut growers, processors and marketers that work
together in sustaining and developing the industry. SAMAC has introduced certain
standards for the handling and packing of raw macadamia nuts guided by the quality
specifications proposed by the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC). More
information is available at www.samac.org.za > Standards. The INC describes itself as
the international source for information on nuts and dried fruits for health, nutrition, food
safety, statistics, government standards and government regulations regarding trade
barriers and trade quality standards. Information is available at www.nutfruit.org.
10.8 Grain SA
Grain SA is the industry body under which groundnuts (peanuts) fall. Part of its function
is to stimulate research into issues of importance to its members, including groundnut
producers. A report compiled by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP)
on the South African groundnut industry was published in May 2012: it is available at
www.grainsa.co.za and enter ‘groundnuts’ into the search facility.
10.9 The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP)
BFAP is a virtual network linking individuals with multi-disciplinary backgrounds to a
coordinated research system that informs decision making within the food system.
BFAP produced a report on the sustainability of the South African groundnut industry
in February 2012, which is available at www.bfap.co.za > Research Projects > BFAP
Reports > Evaluating the Sustainability of the South African Groundnut Industry.
10.10 Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB)
The PPECB is a recognised inspection body responsible for implementing DAFF
regulations regarding the export of both fresh and much processed produce from
South Africa. In addition to its inspection services, the PPECB also provides training
programmes for producers/exporters; relevant training programmes for users of this
manual are those covering product quality, cold chain management and food safety.
Training programmes can be developed to meet individual needs. For further information
on training specifically go to www.ppecb.com > training-academy.
10.11 SA Agri Academy
The Agri Academy provides a wide range of training programmes developed
specifically for the agricultural sector, including producers and exporters. Training in
various aspects of accreditation and certification is given, covering the requirements
of EurepGap, British Retail Consortium (BRC), HACCP and Fair Trade certification.
The academy also runs the Market Access Development Programme to assist
SMEs to gain market access through local, regional, Fair Trade and conventional
routes and an export readiness programme. More information can be obtained
from www.agriacademy.co.za > training overview.
10.12 Other training organisations specialising in food safety
The PPECB and the SA Agri Academy are two organisations that specialise in
training for the agricultural sector, including producers and exporters of processed
fruit, vegetable and nuts. However, there are a number of other training institutions,
some specialising in food safety certification.
10.12.1 SA Bureau of Standards (SABS)
SABS is South Africa’s official standards authority and regulatory body and represents
South Africa on the International Standards Organisation (ISO). In addition to
developing standards and norms for products and services in South Africa, SABS
also offers testing and accreditation, auditing and certification and training; the
Design Institute also falls within SABS’ ambit. Training programmes cover a range
of sectors and subjects, including ISO 9000 quality management series and ISO
22000 food safety management. The training brochure can be downloaded from
www.sabs.co.za > training > training brochure.
10.12.2 Swift Silliker
Swift Silliker offers training courses aimed at all levels of employees in the food,
beverage, hospitality, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries; the company is a
FoodBev SETA accredited training provider. Programmes cover traceability, HACCP,
BRC requirements and ISO 22000. Further information on the training calendar can
be obtained from www.swift.co.za > training. The company also provides consulting
services on food labelling as well as microbiology testing and nutritional analysis.
10.12.3 SGS
SGS in South Africa is part of the international Swiss-based Société Générale de
Surveillance, which is one of the world’s leading inspection and standards compliance
organisations. It offers services covering auditing, certification, testing, inspection,
verification, consulting and training. Training programmes cover all major international
standards regimes, such as HACCP, ISO 22000 and BRC. Full details and contact
information can be obtained from www.sgs.co.za > what we do > training.
10.12.4 HACCP Academy
HACCP Academy is a private sector food safety consulting company providing services
in the fields of training and development, food safety systems development, auditing
services and food technology. Training programmes include HACCP, ISO 22000 and
BRC; further information can be obtained from www.haccpacademy.co.za > training
and development.
10.13 Other training organisations specialising in export training
There are several institutions and companies offering training in various aspects of
exporting. Note that these are not specific to exporters of processed fruit, vegetables
and nuts; nonetheless, whatever the product being exported, fundamental principles are
the same.
10.13.1 Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA)
SEDA is an agency of the national Department of Trade and Industry. In addition to the
wide range of entrepreneurial development services the agency offers, it also manages
four Trade Points in South Africa (in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Nelspruit).
To learn about the Trade Points go to www.seda.org > seda business grow > trade point
programmes. Export training is also provided through SEDA branches; for information go
to www.seda.org.za > contact us and click on the relevant province to find the branch
nearest to you.
10.13.2 Regional investment agencies
There are regional investment organisations in all provinces, and many of these provide
guidance and assistance programmes to enterprises.
Western Cape Investment and Trade Promotion Agency (Wesgro): In the
Western Cape, Wesgro is an agency supported jointly by the Province and the
City of Cape Town; it provides export development, tourism promotion and inward
investment services. Export development programmes include export training at
various levels, foreign trade fair participation and outgoing trade missions.
For information go to: www.wesgro.co.za > export.
Other regional investment agencies
Eastern Cape Development Corporation: www.ecdc.co.za
Free State Development Corporation: www.fdc.co.za
Gauteng Growth and Development Agency: www.ggda.co.za
Invest North West: www.inw.org.za
Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency: www.mega.gov.za
Northern Cape Economic Development Agency: www.nceda.co.za
Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal: www.tikzn.co.za
Trade and Investment Limpopo: www.til.co.za
10.13.3 GetSmarter
GetSmarter is a private educational company that provides a wide range of training
courses online. Included is an import export management course, which covers all
basic aspects of international trade. For information go to www.getsmarter.co.za
and scroll down the left hand column to “import and export”.
10.13.4 Freight Training (Pty) Ltd
Freight Training specialises in training in export and freight/logistics related matters.
In-company training tailored to specific problem areas is also offered. For details
visit www.freighttraining.co.za > course schedule.
10.13.5 School of Shipping
School of Shipping offers courses in import, export, customs clearing and freight
forwarding, which are accredited by the South African Transport Education and
Training Authority (TETA). Information is available from www.schoolofshipping.co.za courses
10.13.6 Logtrain International
Logtrain International offers skills training, e-learning, courses and workshops in supply
chain management, international freight, transport and shipping, and Incoterms®. More
information is available at www.logtrain.co.za > courses.
10.13.7 Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Chambers of Commerce and Industry in major centres frequently offer export assistance
and training.
Note that educational institutions, such as Universities, the IMM Graduate School of
Marketing (IMM GSM) and the International Trade Institute of Southern Africa (Itrisa) offer
long-term diploma or degree programmes in international trade or related subjects. IMM
GSM and Itrisa also offer short training programmes from time to time.
.
