Product Control for Agriculture

Product Control for Agricultural (Prokon) is registered as a non-profit company under the Companies Act, No. 71 of 2008. The company’s business strategy is primarily based on ensuring that fresh produce that reach the South African consumer comply with official quality and health standards. To attain this it renders a quality assurance service at key points that serve as links between the supplier and the buyer, i.e. fresh produce markets, distribution centres and thus retail outlets, as well as ports of entry.

In terms of its appointment as an official assignee of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Prokon has been rendering a comprehensive inspection service on potatoes since 1994 and since 2017 on all other regulated locally produced and imported fresh fruits and vegetables. These inspections are carried out in accordance with the Agricultural Products Standards Act, No. 119 of 1990 and the relevant regulations. It is furthermore important to note that since 2012 Prokon has been conducting unofficial inspections under contract for various fresh produce industries and retail groups.

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. This makes Prokon the only South African company that is internationally accredited to conduct inspections on fresh produce.

Business strategy

Prokon’s business strategy is primarily based on ensuring that fresh produce that reach the South African consumers comply with official quality and health standards. To attain this, it renders a quality assurance inspection service at key points that serve as links between the supplier and the buyer, e.g., fresh produce markets, distribution centres and thus retail outlets, as well as inland and sea ports of entry.

Vision

To enforce standards and exercise control over the quality of agricultural produce offered for sale and to assist in promoting local and foreign marketing of South African produce with the emphasis on quality.

Mission

To deliver a comprehensive, cost effective and professional quality assurance and advisory service to the fresh produce industry and consumers which would advance the image of the said industry.

Values

To ensure that the service rendered is professional and impartial, based on integrity and professional conduct.

Goals

To create a level business playing field for the fresh produce industry based on product quality.

Board of directors

The Prokon board of directors is representative of relevant sectors in the fresh produce industry to ensure that all matters that impact on service delivery to the industry, are addressed. The following persons served on the Prokon board of directors: