Index of deviations in public stocks falls for the second year in a row

For the second year in a row, the record of deviations investigated by public stock inspections by the National Supply Company (Conab) registered a drop. Last year, around 1,5 diverted tons were identified, compared to a figure of 2,5 tons in 2017, which represents a decrease of 40%. This is what the balance of the actions of Conab's Inventory Inspection Superintendency (Sufis) reveals.

According to the area, the good result is a reflection of the constant innovations applied in inspection actions, based on continuous training of the company's technicians, combined with the use of methodologies and systems that adopt more modern information technologies.

The survey also points to a reduction in storage losses, from 1,6 thousand tons to 1,35 thousand tons. On the other hand, there was an increase in product declassification, from 2 tons in 2017 to 1,4 tons last year. The increase is mainly due to the loss of quality of corn stored in Santa Catarina. As the product was stored in a third-party warehouse, there will be no loss for the Company, as the storage agent must return the stock either in product or in cash. If the invoice is not settled within the deadline, the amount will be increased by a fine and late payment interest/month and the debtor will be included in the Defaulter Registration and Control System (Sircoi) and in the Federal Public Sector's Informative Register of Unpaid Credits. (Cadin).

It is worth mentioning that the recording of losses during storage, that is, a reduction in stock, is natural. The loss can be quantitative, when a drop in weight of the product is detected due to respiratory activity and a decrease in the moisture content of the grains, or qualitative, when the initial characteristics of the product are depreciated.

When a deviation occurs, the irregularity is reported to the Federal Public Ministry, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service, the State Finance Department and the Federal Police. Furthermore, the storage company is unable to operate with the Company for two years and must return the initial stock in cash or product.

Other programs - In addition to public stocks, periodic inspections of programs operated by Conab itself were also carried out. The measure aims to control and better direct public resources. In total, more than 1,6 inspections were carried out in the Food Acquisition (PAA), Over-the-Counter Sales (ProVB) programs, the Product Flow Award (PEP), the Equalizer Award Paid to the Producer (Pepro) and the Minimum Price Guarantee Policy for Sociobiodiversity Products (PGPM-Bio). Conab inspectors also carried out 917 inspections of the Rural Insurance Premium in response to demands from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa).