Fresh Notes: Packhouse Action Group (PAG) Meeting

Held on 29 October 2020

Moratorium on High-Cube Containers

Contact: Andy Connell

• No further updates from the Department of Transport.

Load-out Temperatures

Contact: Johan Strydom / Bernard Henning

• Applications for regulation changes and dispensations have been made.
• PPECB has been requested to incorporate the load shedding dispensations for apples and winter pears packed without plastic bags (expiring 31 December 2020) into PPECB regulations.
• To manage the possible build-up of uncooled or partially cooled fruit at cold stores due to load shedding:
  • Apples: Maximum loadout temperature of +3.0°C (currently set point +2.0°C, which in practice is usually +1.5°C).
  • Winter pears: Maximum loadout temperature of +2.0°C (currently set point +2.0°C, usually +1.5°C).

Alternatives to SOPP

Contact: Bernard Henning

• No further updates yet on a new pallet sanitising product.

Logistics

Contact: Jacques du Preez

• Major logistic issues in the supply chain, such as Cape Town port berthing delays, are due to staff capacity (initially Covid-19 infections), inefficiencies, equipment failure, and weather.
• Additional logistical capacity will be created under the auspices of FSA.
• Weekly in-season meetings with Transnet have commenced.

Packaging

Contact: Lindi Benic

• WTO communication from the EU (June 2020) relates to adopted EU legislation under the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork sustainable strategy.
• Freshfel communication (August 2020) notes German draft legislation restricting food contact materials (FCM) with fibrous materials from waste/recycled paper with mineral oil components.
• Germany applies the precautionary principle, stating no safe limit for these compounds.
• Obligation to use a functional barrier in FCM made of recycled paper/cardboard.
• PAG will review information regarding likely future impacts on packaging.

Packhouse Benchmarking

Contact: Dawid Malan

• Example fruit quality benchmarking outputs for apples and pears, conducted with Productivity SA.
• Packhouses are encouraged to participate—contact Dawid Malan.

Packhouse Water Management Project

Contact: Eddie Vienings

• Data collection is underway; Phase 3 report will be finalised in December.

Market Access Feedback

Contact: Jacques du Preez / Lindi Benic

• Kenya is in the process of becoming a special market due to phytosanitary registration requirements for codling moth.

CA Webinar Meeting

Contact: Richard Hurndall

• Successful CA webinar held on 3 November, with over 70 registrations and two overseas presenters.
• Presentations will be placed on the Hortgro website.
• A quick PAG link has been created on the Hortgro home page.
• A meeting of CA operators will also be convened by webinar, date to be advised.

PAG Disciplines and Coordinators

Please contact the relevant person if you have any queries regarding the PAG.

• Chairman: Koos Bouwer (bouweb@orangenet.co.za)
• Engineering: Henk Ryke (henk@tad.co.za), Koos Bouwer (bouweb@orangenet.co.za)
• Packaging: Dr Malcolm Dodd (malcolm@alaceraer.co.za), Bryce MacIntyre (bryce.macintyre@kaapagri.co.za)
• Environmental Footprint: Eddie Vienings (eddie@bluenorth.co.za), Hugh Campbell (hugh@hortgro.co.za)
• Packhouse Large: Dawid Malan (dawid@tad.co.za), Francois Malan (francois.malan@cfg.co.za), Willem Coetzee (willem@dutoit.com)
• Packhouse Small: Hendrik Claassen (hendrik@bellafrutta.co.za), Vacancy
• Post-Harvest Quality: Dr Elke Crouch (elke@sun.ac.za), Henk Griessel (henkg@tru-cape.co.za), Jaco Moelich (jaco.moelich@fruitways.co.za)
• Logistics: Johan Strydom (pslog@mweb.co.za), Andy Connell (andy@abarc.co.za)
• Communication Strategy: Richard Hurndall (hurndallr@gmail.com), Koos Bouwer (bouweb@orangenet.co.za), Elise-Marie Steenkamp (elise-marie@hortgro.co.za)
• PPECB: Bernardus Henning (bernardush@ppecb.com)
• FPEF: Werner van Rooyen (werner@fpef.co.za)
• DAFF:
  • Director: Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Billy Makhafola (BillyM@daff.gov.za)
  • Regional Manager: NPPPIS WC Directorate: Inspection Services, Gcobani Tsako (GcobaniT@daff.gov.za)
• Hortgro: Jacques du Preez (jacques@hortgro.co.za), Lindi Benic (lindi@hortgro.co.za)
• Research: Prof Wiehann Steyn (wiehann@hortgro.co.za)