Food and product safety was a rapidly growing global concern, and SA needed to consolidate its position as a leader on the continent, Swift Micro Laboratories MD Valme Steward said in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 1 August 2012.
All consumables, whether foodstuff or cosmetics, must meet minimum requirements set by the departments of health or agriculture, as well as specific regulations for export. Swift Micro Laboratories - which will become Swift Silliker - is the largest privately owned commercial food and product safety company in SA, with an annual turnover of R65m.
"The joint venture will enable Swift Silliker to expand rapidly into Africa with our clients, and accelerate our ability to service the growing markets on the continent.... The (venture) includes a dedicated Africa expansion plan," Steward said.
The president and CEO of Mérieux NutriSciences, Philippe Sans, said: "As part of Silliker, Swift will benefit from the strength of the group and accelerate their development with the introduction of new services for faster expansion in Africa."
Steward said: "The joint venture gives Swift immediate and continuous access to the latest technology and methods via Mérieux NutriSciences' dedi- cated research and development departments."
Mérieux NutriSciences employs more than 4,000 people working in 65 laboratories in 17 countries, while Swift Micro Laboratories has 170 employees and offers services in the Southern African Development Community region.
The company now had immediate access to internationally recognised methods and processes, Steward said.
"It is a huge network for us and will involve upskilling our staff and employing more people for our services."
Moreover, there was a trend for companies to standardise their products. "To date, we have declined partnership approaches from global corporations, but the venture with Mérieux NutriSciences, and in particular their food safety division, is a natural fit ... (as we) also share global clients that operate in Southern Africa," she said.
Swift Micro Laboratories' national business development manager, Anza Bester, said yesterday she was unable to disclose who these clients were, owing to confidentiality concerns.
Source: Business Day
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