WELCOME TO PROKON 



Product Control for Agriculture (Prokon), registered as a non-profit company under the Companies Act, No. 71 of 2008, is an independent quality assurance company that conducts quality inspections and renders other related services to stakeholders in the fresh produce industry. 

In terms of its appointment as official assignee of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, a comprehensive inspection service is being rendered on potatoes since 1994 and since 2017 on all other designated locally produced and imported fresh fruits and vegetables. All these inspections are carried out in accordance with the Agricultural Products Standards Act, No. 119 of 1990 and the relevant regulations. As from 2012 Prokon also has been conducting unofficial inspections under contract for various fresh produce industries and retail groups. 

In order for Prokon to provide trusted and independent inspection services that promotes confidence, the senior management team of Prokon places the utmost importance on the principals of impartiality, conflict of interest and confidentiality, when conducting inspections and audits on regulated fresh produce and all related activities. 

On 13 April 2021 Prokon received the internationally recognised ISO/IEC 17020:2012 accreditation from SANAS for the inspection of fresh produce at fresh produce markets, retail and imports in South Africa. Following the annual audit by SANAS on 13 October 2022 to determine whether the company still complies with the requirements for accreditation, it has officially been informed that it has passed the audit which means the Prokon retains its international accreditation. This makes Prokon the only South African company that is internationally accredited to conduct inspections on fresh produce.


The purpose of the regulations promulgated under the Protection of Personal Information Act, No. 4 of 2013 (POPIA), which came into effect on 1 July 2021, is to protect your right to privacy and to regulate how personal information is processed. Based on its conditions, upfront and proactive consent and compliance is essential. Prokon wishes to assure all role players to whom the company renders services that it is committed to protecting your privacy by making the safeguarding of your personal information a top priority. Your privacy and the protection of your information is important to us. We do not sell or provide your personal information to unauthorised entities or other third parties, for their independent use. With reference to the aforementioned it is important to note that Prokon as official assignee of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), i.e., the regulator, and its ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), i.e., the accreditation body, is legally obliged to allow the aforementioned bodies access to its inspection related documentation, statistics, and information.
In order for Prokon to provide trusted and independent inspection services that promotes confidence, the senior management team of Prokon places the utmost importance on the principals of impartiality, conflict of interest and confidentiality, when conducting inspections and audits on regulated fresh produce and all related activities. Prokon ensures that inspections and audits are conducted impartialy, independent and without conflict of interest, and has service level agreements which includes these principals. All clients are treated equaly as the same principals are expected from each and everyone, including our inspectors. The risks of impartiality, independence and conflict of interest is controlled and managed by policies, procedures and instructions as defined by SANAS 17020, and reviewed once per year and audited by SANAS. All aspects of the inspections and audits are treated as confidential and will only be made available to the auditee, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and any other person or institution for whom written permission is given by the auditee or his/her representative. Prokon is an assignee of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for section 2(3) of the Agricultural Products Standards Act, Act 119 of 1990, with the application of section 3 (1) (a) and (b) read together with section 3A, 7 and 8 of the APS act, and therefore Prokon is obligated to disclose information of the inspections and audits to the departement.


INSPECTION FEES



Prokon’s primary source of income is the inspection fees charged in respect of the inspections conducted on potatoes as well as on all other regulated locally produced and imported fresh fruits and vegetables destined for sale in the Republic of South Africa. It operates on a cost recovery basis and the determination of the fees is based on objectivity, fairness, reasonableness, and equity and have been benchmarked with other inspection agencies, rendering similar services.

The inspections on locally produced potatoes and other regulated fresh fruits and vegetables are carried out at, e.g., fresh produce markets, distribution centres, retailers, wholesalers and repackagers. The inspections on regulated imported fresh fruits and vegetables are carried out at ports of entry, i.e., inland, sea and air as well as distribution centres, packhouses, cold storage facilities or any other designated facility that holds, handles, and distributes such produce.



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Inspection fee on locally produced fresh potatoes

The inspection fee applicable to potatoes was originally published under government notice 968 of 2015 in government gazette 39275 dated 9 October 2015. The inspection fee is revised annually.

 
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Inspection fees all other regulated locally produced fresh fruits and vegetables

The categories and inspection fees were published under Notice 877 of 2022 in Government Gazette 46203 of 11 March 2022 and came into effect seven days after publication. The inspections fees are revised annually.

Open Government gazzete 
 
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Inspection fees all regulated imported fresh fruits and vegetables

The inspection fees applicable to regulated imported fruits and vegetables were published under government notice 1087 in government gazette 43803 dated 13 October 2020. The inspection fees are revised annually.

Open Government gazzete
 


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SPECIALIST SERVICES RENDERED



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QUALITY ASSURANCE

Inspections are conducted at fresh produce markets, retail outlets and ports of entry to ensure consumers and buyers purchase produce that represent quality and value for money. During inspections it is, e.g., checked if the product conforms with the relevant marking requirements, check the internal and external quality, size as well as ripeness and firmness.

 
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ADVISORY SERVICE

The service includes advice to farmers, industry bodies and retailer groups on official quality standards, marking requirements, and packaging. The is provided at, e.g., farmers’ days, and meetings with the aforementioned bodies and groups. The service is augmented by making information available through brochures, etc.

 
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TRAINING

Training programs include quality assurance training to role players, i.e., commercial and emerging farmers and their workers, cooperatives and their employees, and quality controllers at distribution centres. Training is also provided to own and industry personnel in conjunction with international and local inspection bodies.

 
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FOOD SAFETY

Consumers are increasingly demanding that the fresh produce they purchase is safe and comply with official quality, health, and safety standards. Apart from ensuring compliance with the aforementioned Prokon draws samples for chemical residue testing and plays an important role in monitoring correct labelling to facilitate traceability.

 
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E-CLICK APPLICATION DURING INSPECTIONS

The E-click electronic software application provides in Prokon’s unique information capturing, conversion, extraction, and outset requirements in respect of inspection information. This allows for comprehensive factual reporting that is basically indisputable. This critical information is available on Prokon’s data base.

 
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STOCK AUDITS

Stock audits are conducted at fresh produce markets on the request of farmers and industry bodies. Examples thereof are the state of consignments with special reference to volumes and quality and comparative age analyses.

 

PROKON INFORMATION



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Prokon – adding value to the fresh produce industry

The brochure provides a broad spectrum of information about Prokon and its mandate as official assignee with special reference to need for and benefits of quality assurance inspections, what the company can offer fresh produce supply chain stakeholders, what inspections comprise of, and the responsibility and obligations of Prokon versus that of the owner / seller of the product.

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Prokon – company profile

The leaflet provides a synopsis of what Prokon is all about with the emphasis on its strategy, services, and scope of work.

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Business Review – 2020/2022

The Business Review offers a comprehensive overview of Prokon as a company and its activities for the period 2020/2022. Some of the aspects covered in the review include statistics of the inspections on all regulated locally produced and imported fresh fruits and vegetables and locally produced fresh potatoes, developments in the inspection milieu, training and informational aids such as the data base, the website and production aids.

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QUALITY GUIDES



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Colour plates potatoes

Colour plates in respect of quality specifications on potatoes – R300.00. Prices exclude VAT and postage. Payment should be made to Prokon (Produkkontrole vir Landbou, Bank: ABSA, Branch Code: 334945, Account number: 1102320073). Send proof of payment and contact details (including delivery address) to dmin@prokonsa.co.za.

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Quality guide potatoes

Potato quality guide – R200.00. Prices exclude VAT and postage. Payment should be made to Prokon (Produkkontrole vir Landbou, Bank: ABSA, Branch Code: 334945, Account number: 1102320073). Send proof of payment and contact details (including delivery address) to admin@prokonsa.co.za.

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Quality guide tomatoes

Tomata quality guide – R150.00. Prices exclude VAT and postage. Payment should be made to Prokon (Produkkontrole vir Landbou, Bank: ABSA, Branch Code: 334945, Account number: 1102320073). Send proof of payment and contact details (including delivery address) to admin@prokonsa.co.za.



PROKON DATABASE



The bulk of the information available on the Prokon database is generated through the e-click app. The information can in essence be divided into three categories, i.e., fresh produce markets, the retail trade which encompasses retail outlets and distribution centres, and imports. Prokon is at present working on ensuring the correctness of the data to enhance the useability, limit access thereto to the specific party only as well as guarantee the privacy thereof, after which industry role players will be granted access to their specific data. However, the data can at present be provided upon request. 


The relevant information pertaining to the product inspected consists of the following:


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Fresh produce markets

Details of product inspected, e.g., volume, type of product (Mondial), size group, class. 

Details of the supplier (e.g., farmer) of the product. 

Production region. 

Market the consignment was delivered to (inspection point [GPS]). 

Market agent to which the consignment was delivered. 

Outcome of the inspection, e.g., volumes passed or downgraded. 

Volumes sold and at what price. 

The number of inspections conducted. 

Percentages of downgradings. 

Type of non-conformances.

 
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Retail trade

Name of the retail group. 

Name and place of the specific distribution centre or retail outlet (inspection point [GPS]). 

Details of product inspected, e.g., volume, type of product (Mondial), size group, class. 

Details of the supplier (e.g., farmer) of the product. 

Outcome of the inspection, e.g., volumes passed or downgraded.

 
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Imports

Details of the importer. 

Port of entry (inspection point [GPS]). 

Details of foreign supplier. (GR number / importer’s code.) 

Details of imported product inspected, e.g., volume, type of product, size group, class. 

Outcome of the inspection, e.g., volumes passed or downgraded.

 


Information for in-house usage purposes 

Details of inspections conducted per day, per week, per month and per annum for performance evaluation purposes, i.e., name of inspector, inspection point (GPS point), duration of the inspection, number of inspections conducted, number of consignments inspected, directives issued in respect of non-conformances and the follow-up thereof.



PROKON articles published in CHIPS magazine



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PROKON articles



ASSIGNEE  |  ACCREDITATION  |  MEMBERSHIP




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DALRRD

Official assignee of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

 
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SANAS

SANAS accreditation for the inspection of fresh produce

 
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IFPA member

Affiliated membership of the International Fresh Produce Association: IFPA