Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI)
Quality verification of goods before they leave the country of origin
Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) is an independent quality and quantity verification of goods at the supplier's premises before shipment. Used worldwide by importers to verify that what they are paying for matches what they ordered.
Typical PSI workflow: 1. Importer or buyer commissions an inspection body (like FoodGate Audit) ahead of shipment. 2. Inspector visits the packhouse or factory after packing, before container loading. 3. Sampling per ISO 2859 (AQL acceptable quality level) or buyer-specific plan. 4. Visual quality check, packaging integrity, weight verification, temperature checks. 5. Photographic documentation (typically 40+ photos) and pass/fail report. 6. Report delivered within 24-48h.
For Egyptian fresh produce and food exports, PSI is the primary tool importers use to avoid receiving non-conforming shipments. The cost is small (€450-€1,500 typical) compared to the value at risk (€20,000-€100,000+ per container).
FoodGate Audit specializes in pre-shipment inspection at Egyptian packhouses across all major regions. Our reports are ISO 17020-grade, accepted by EU/UK/Asia buyers and major insurance companies.