Why this training?

Product recalls are costly and have the potential to severely damage a brand’s reputation, trust, and goodwill if not planned and executed effectively.

Why this training

Product recalls are costly. Done badly, they damage a brand’s reputation, and the trust customers place in it.

The South African Consumer Protection Act puts significant responsibility on companies to recall faulty products in a way that protects public safety. Specific regulatory agencies also have defined reporting requirements.

To respond adeqautely takes a Crisis Management and Crisis Communication protocol built on real operational discipline, not a checklist.

Managing a recall is resource intensive. Companies must run the recall itself while keeping every stakeholder informed and do both without letting the brand take the hit.

The work starts long before a recall happens. Preparation, risk management, and product quality get scrutinized the moment something goes wrong, so they need attention now, not during the crisis.

The scale of the Listeria recall made this clear. So did the 2026 Taylor Farms lettuce recall, where a Cyclospora outbreak forced the company to pull iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from stores and food service accounts across multiple states.

A recall can happen even with strong quality controls in place. Companies that plan for it in advance protect their reputation when it matters. Handling a recall well is one of the clearest ways to prove that.

This training covers the ethical, operational, legal, and reputational challenges a recall crisis brings.

The program runs on case studies, checklists, and questionnaires. Participants get tested on decision-making, communication under pressure, and the ethical calls a recall forces. The checklists and questionnaires give them tools to take back and apply directly to their own organization’s recall plan.

Participants leave understanding what a recall does to a company’s reputation, and what their own role is when one happens.

The training also gives participants a chance to benchmark their company’s recall strategy against others and sharpen procedures that hold up to the organization’s values.

Who should attend

The training is aimed at Recall Crisis Team members. It should include representatives from Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Distribution, PR, Communication, Marketing, and Management.

Course Outline

Module 1: The Nature and Scale of a Recall Crisis
What counts as a product recall, and how a recall differs from a routine return or a market withdrawal. Why recalls have become more frequent and harder to contain, and what they cost a business beyond the direct expense of pulling stock.

Module 2: Legal and Regulatory Framework
The recall obligations set out in the Consumer Protection Act, and how they interact with sector-specific regulation. Classifying a recall by severity and understanding when a recall becomes mandatory rather than voluntary.

Module 3: What Causes a Recall
The common triggers behind a recall, from manufacturing defects and design flaws to regulatory intervention and consumer complaints. Case studies drawn from food, pharmaceutical, and automotive recalls show how a single point of failure escalates into a full-scale crisis.

Module 4: Prevention and Risk Management
Building quality control, testing, and internal reporting systems that catch a problem before it reaches the market. Why open internal communication and cross-functional visibility reduce the chance of a recall happening at all.

Module 5: Planning the Recall
Structuring a recall plan before one is needed. Assigning a recall leader, building a cross-functional recall team, and setting up traceability systems that let a company locate affected product fast.

Module 6: Executing the Recall
Running the recall once it’s underway. Locating and recovering product, managing returns and disposal, and tracking effectiveness against the standards regulators expect.

Module 7: Crisis Communication
Communicating with regulators, distributors, media, and consumers during a recall. Drafting recall notices, training spokespeople, and protecting the company’s reputation while a recall is still live.

Module 8: Recovery and Continuous Improvement
Closing out a recall with regulators and stakeholders and rebuilding trust once the immediate crisis has passed. Running mock recall simulations and reviewing the plan regularly, so the next recall is handled better than the last.

When

DATE: TBA. Training can be held in-house.
TIME: 8.30 am to 4.00 pm CAT

Payment (Terms and Conditions apply)

• R3650 exc. VAT per delegate.
• Early Bird discount available.
• Group Discount Option available for three delegates or more from the same business unit, payable within 5 days of invoice date.

In-House Training Option

The training runs live in-house for a minimum of three delegates, or virtually on Microsoft Teams or another platform.

To register by phone or ask a question about the program, contact Deon Binneman at deon@deonbinneman.com, or call 083 425 4318.

In this video I go into more detail about recalls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=padpShbID_s

Resources

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) Recall Procedure

Why Previous Attendees Highly Recommend This Workshop

Catia Folgore, Product Head: Crisis Management ITOO Special Risks

Deon Binneman thank you Deon, another great session, thank you for joining us today, always great to listen to you…

Liza Maresch, AIG:

Thank you for your great Recall Crisis Management presentation on Friday, which was extremely well received by everyone.  Is it possible to get a copy of your presentation – we have quite a few brokers who have asked for it?

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