Milestone in banana tissue culture plant market

Access in the French West Indies (FWI). Perseverance does pay off. Nine years ago Du Roi Laboratory set a goal to enter into what was a seemingly “closed market” in the FWI, a market with great potential. A process of negotiation then began between the governments of France and South Africa, resulting in a signed and mutually acceptable agreement by each country that allows Du Roi access into this market.

Du Roi Laboratory was established in South Africa during 1994 and specialises in the production and distribution of disease-free, virus-indexed banana tissue culture plants. Du Roi has a capacity to produce more than 10 million banana plants annually, many of which are exported to other countries within Africa, Middle East, South and Central America. Now for the first time, Du Roi will be able to enter and compete in a market that has a potential of a million plants or more per annum on the Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe and other French Territories.

Two audits were conducted by the French Authorities (DGAL) at Du Roi Laboratory, including procedures (which are ISO approved), and involved the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in SA (DAFF). During 2007, Du Roi believed the accreditation was imminent, yet further delays were discovered when DAFF required a special protocol directive from the South African Government. The long awaited Accreditation, as an approved supplier, received by Du Roi in March 2015, opens new territories for South African business potential and will set new standards for the laboratories currently operating in the FWI countries. This is good news for Bananas!

For more information:
Alan Davson
Du Roi Laboratory
Tel: +27 83 4554315
Email: alanne@mweb.co.za