Agri Inspec
Agri Inspec, a forensic investigating company was established by the MPO some 15 years ago after the MPO identified a gap with regard to the monitoring and control of illegal and sub-standard dairy imports.
Agri Inspec works closely with government structures in Southern Africa in order to uncover financial fraud and other international trade irregularities.
Agri Inspec’s mission is to ensure that all relevant transactions, including imports, and ad hoc investigations where it’s clients are involved are conducted in a fair manner.
Main Activities
Agri Inspec’s main activities with regard to forensic investigations in the agricultural sector is to obtain data and information, conduct investigations, conduct forensic audits and research.
The company serves the majority of the agricultural sector’s different industries like the biochemical, dairy, poultry, red meat, sugar, pasta, fresh produce, wheat, flour, beverages, fertilizer, transport and dry bean industries. During it’s investigations Agri Inspec also forms part of other forensic teams and works closely together with the departments of health, agriculture,forestry and fisheries, trade and industry, the South African police services and the South African revenue services.
Internationally, Agri Inspec’s services have been utilised in the United States, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Swaziland and the company has an office in Namibia.
Agents against illegal imports
The company offers a variety of services to the agricultural sector , including market protection, investigations of illegal imports, investment analysis, quality control of foodstuffs and economic analysis to ensure that the dumping of commodities do not have a negative impact on South African markets.
The company is actively involved at the country’s ports of entry, including land border posts, sea ports and air ports making it virtually impossibly to import dairy products undetected. Furthermore, Agri Inspec has an extensive network of informants and agents who are responsible for obtaining the detailed relevant information that is the backbone of forensic investigations and the evaluation of transactions.
Although Agri Inspec mainly focuses on agriculture products irregularities can arise during the importation of any other products. The level of illegal imports of a specific product can increase significantly if there is no or insufficient protection of the product or industry. Some countries are more prone to illegal exports than others.
Certain government institutions in Namibia authorised Agri Inspec to inspect consignments and issue fines to perpetrators. The company also established a permanent office in Namibia after activities increased to such an extent that long distance control became difficult.
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