Benjamin Miller, MPH Dairy and Food Inspection Division Operations and Response Section Manager Core Information Elements of a Product Tracing System

Core Elements in Effective Systems Systems concept critical –Modifications without a standardized system will not significantly improve traceability System should be: –Standardized –Required of all entities in the supply chain –Electronic

Core Elements in Effective Systems Traceability should identify the, –Who –What –When –Where –How of product creation and movement

Core Elements in Effective Systems An effectively designed system will protect public health by facilitating: –The identification of a vehicle during a traceback investigation Triangulation of plausible exposures in an outbreak –Quick and efficient identification of all product(s) involved in a recall during a traceforward investigation

Core Elements in Effective Systems Lot Coding –A form of lot coding for all food –Where feasible, lot code should appear on consumer unit –“Lot” defined by grower, manufacturer, etc., but should be small enough to facilitate effective identification and recall of product

Core Elements in Effective Systems Standardization –Links data across the supply chain –Allows maintenance of current “One Up / One Down” system –Exists today and is in use by industry Human and machine readable GS1 Application Identifiers –Does not “reinvent-the-wheel”

Core Elements in Effective Systems

Critical Tracking Events: –Must be unique –Identified on invoices or via EDI –“Key” to link other tracing data i.e. GS1 standards –Allows trading partners to maintain “One-Step” traceability