The Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) is an independent service provider of quality certification and cold chain management services for producers and exporters of perishable food products. As a national public entity, the PPECB is constituted and mandated in terms of the Perishable Products Export Control Act (PPEC Act), No 9, of 1983 to perform cold chain services. The PPECB also delivers inspection and food safety services assigned by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) under the APS Act, No.119 of 1990. The presence of the PPECB in the export industry is furthermore enhanced by its recognition as an approved third country under the European Commission Regulation 543 of 2011. This agreement recognises the South African inspection systems as equivalent to that of the EU inspection bodies and therefore ensures less frequent checks at the port of import into the EU.