Presentation regarding Produce Traceability as presented to FDA & FSIS on December 9 & 10, 2009 in Washington, D.C.

1. Traceability: Linking the Supply Chain
Kathy Means
Produce Marketing Association
Copyright PMA 20091

2. Produce Traceability Initiative
• Mission: Create action plan for produce industry to
adopt effective whole chain traceability through
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common technology and standards that link internal
traceability programs
• Internal Traceability = each company’s own system
• External Traceability = data exchange between trading
partners
• Whole‐Chain Traceability = Internal + External
traceability

3. Path Forward: Effective, Efficient
• Uses existing global, market‐proven standards: GS1
• Uses existing technologies: Barcodes
Uses existing technologies: Barcodes
• Uses existing information:
– Unique company identification number
Unique company identification number
– Lot #
– Pack/harvest date (optional if already in lot number)
/ ( p y )
– One‐step‐up, one‐step‐down
• Augments (not replaces) internal systems
g ( p ) y
• Why not RFID?
– Water inhibits effective use; produce is 90% water

4. Key Components
• Unique identifiers – human readable (numbers) and
electronic (bar codes)
electronic (bar codes)
• Connects each link in the supply chain
• Common system
Common system
• Allows automation, eliminates manual activity
•IIncreases productivity, ensures consistency
d ti it it
• Allows database storage, information management
• All
Allows for quick access and analysis
f i k d l i
• Can be extrapolated to other food industries
Copyright PMA 2009 4

5. Standard Case Label
Standard Case Label
ORANGES
Valencia 10 - 4 LB BAGS
( (01) 10614141000415 (10) 022208ABC
01) 90614141000415 ( 3202) 000712
) )
GTIN Lot number

6. 1 Step Up/1 Step Down
GTIN
LOT #
Primary Producer
Output
Input
GTIN
LOT # Processor / Packer
SUPPLY C
Output
Input
CHAIN
GTIN
LOT #
Wholesaler / Distributor
Output
1. Case ID (GTIN): Input
10577343123457
GTIN
LOT #
Distribution Center
2. Lot #:
Output
267A1156
Input
Retail Outlet

7. Item ID – Databar
• Stacked omni‐directional
• Holds 14 characters
Holds 14 characters
• Designed for loose produce
• Item‐level codes – from product to producer
p p
• Traceability skips all distribution links in between

8. Item‐level traceability
Databar
Primary Producer
Output
Input
Processor / Packer
SUPPLY C
Output
Input
CHAIN
Wholesaler / Distributor
Output
Input
Distribution Center/Retail Outlet
Output
Input
Databar
Consumer

9. Why PTI?
• Common, global standards
•CCommon information
i f ti
• Common technology
•EExpensive, but less so than other options
i b l h h i
• Interest from other perishables groups
• www.producetraceability.org