Eagle Product Inspection strengthens its market position in Africa

It can also detect contaminants in powdered tea, coffee, baby formula milk powder, fruit juice, plastic bottles of milk, glass bottles of beer and cans of lemonade.

Offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town

J-Pak supplies product inspection equipment to manufacturers in Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana and Mozambique, and South Africa.

It will also provide technical expertise from its offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

Simon King, head, Global Sales, Service and Marketing, Eagle, told DairyReporter, the partnership further strengthens its position in Africa, to reach out to more customers throughout the region.

“It is crucial for us to ensure we offer food processors in Africa access to locally-based technical and sector experts​,” he said.

“The demand in South Africa for inspection equipment is driven primarily by export activities to international markets. We see a growing demand for product inspection in the meat industry, as well as an increasing interest from large food manufacturers in acquiring technologies that support compliance with national and international food safety standards​.

“Another reason to keep an eye on the South African market is the fact it is growing and maturing. Its population is expected to increase by 7 million by 2050, reaching 60 million inhabitants.​

“Since 2006, it has become a net importer of processed foods. With growing family incomes and increased urbanization, South Africa is displaying a growing demand for more convenient and easy-to-prepare processed meals​.

“With these positive indicators and an evolving regulatory landscape, it has the potential to be a new market for quality, HACCP-assured foods from international manufacturers​.”

Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act

King added with proposed changes to the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants (FCD) Act placing greater emphasis on contaminant elimination, the need for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) procedures and advanced product inspection is greater than ever.

Eagle, represented by J-Pak locally, will provide a range of x-ray inspection machines to maximize detection rates for physical contaminants, such as metal, glass, dense plastics or rubber, calcified bone and mineral stone.

These systems are also designed to perform complementary quality checks such as mass measurement (weight checks), seal integrity and inspect for missing product or fill level for portion control.

“South African food exports have increased over the last year, mainly to UK and the European Union (EU), as well as to the US​,” said Tim Jordan, sales director, J-Pak.

“This means food manufacturers have to ensure their processes comply with the regulations in force in these target regions in order to retain access to lucrative overseas markets​.”

According to Switzerland Global Enterprise, which provides market reports for Swiss companies wanting to enter the South African Food and Beverages market, South Africa is the largest economy in Africa, accounting for nearly 40% of African industrial output.

The agro processing industry spans exotic and indigenous meats, nuts, herbs and fruit and is worth an estimated £2.3bn and domestic manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on processing capabilities and efficiencies to boost the value of exports.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is the primary food safety assessment method used in South Africa as exporters are advised to comply with international markets, such as the EU and US where HACCP is mandatory for imports.