Tracking & Tracing in the food supply chain

The European Union has adopted the Regulation 178/2002 [221 KB] which will strongly influence the food supply chain from January 2005.

The Regulation addresses 3 main areas :

- General principles and requirements of food law
- The establishment of the European Food Safety Authority
- The rapid alert system, crisis management and emergencies

Implementation of the Regulation 178/2002 requires global identification and tools which are offered by the GS1 System. In the introduction of the Regulation paragraph 28 states :
"Experience has shown that the functioning of the internal market in food or feed can be jeopardised where it is impossible to trace food and feed. It is therefore necessary to establish a comprehensive system of traceability within food and feed businesses so that targeted and accurate withdrawals can be undertaken or information given to consumers or control officials, thereby avoiding the potential for unnecessary wider disruption in the event of food safety problems."
This confirms that the most efficient way to respond to the food law requirements for traceability is the use of an open global system available to all : the GS1 System.

As of 2004, traceability will be a legal obligation in the US food supply chain.

"US Farm Bill – Country of Origin Labeling", and proposed FDA regulation on "Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipments" and "Establishment and Maintenance of Records” in effect require traceability for all US food imports.

GS1 has been strongly involved in the development of solutions which help companies and market partners to enhance their business processes in the area of food and feed traceability.
An overview of these developments is summarised here. For further information, visit GS1 website.