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Produce Traceability Lays Groundwork for Standards Program

The steering committee of the Produce Traceability Initiative, launched by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and United Fresh Produce Association (United), has laid the groundwork for a produce traceability initiative. The move is an industry-led effort to adopt traceability throughout the produce supply chain. The committee concluded that an application of common standards across the supply chain is needed to enhance industry-wide traceability, building the next step beyond many of the internal systems that now exist. The committee agreed that the GS1 produce traceability standard is the most efficient worldwide approach to achieve system-wide tracking. A formal timeline for adoption of standards is needed, said the committee. In addition, it concluded traceability standards should be adopted at the case level initially. However, businesses were encouraged to move toward item level coding as feasible. The steering commi! ttee will meet in the next two months to form subcommittees that would address these specific initiatives. Source: Canadian Grocer E-Newsletter, January 18, 2008.