We received permission to republish this information from the National Research Council Canada for WaudWare blog readers…
“In a new publication for its Centre for Food in Canada, The Conference Board of Canada recommends that all players in the food supply chain be able to trace where they got a product or ingredient from, and where they sent that product. In other words, each firm in the food supply chain needs to be able to accurately trace its products or ingredients one step forward and one step back in the supply chain. In response to the globalization of food markets, changing trade regulations, and greater focus on food safety incidents, calls for better traceability systems and tools grow louder. This has prompted industry, encouraged by government, to speed up investments in traceability. Recent food product recalls in Canada and around the world reinforces the importance of a robust system of traceability to protect the safety and quality of our food supply. Without such a system, public trust and public safety are at risk.
The 72 page report: Forging Stronger Links: Traceability and the Canadian Food Supply Chain, analyzes food traceability system issues and examines the costs and benefits of traceability for the different participants in the food supply system. Without a solid grasp of the costs and related benefits of the available traceability options, supply chain stakeholders may not be investing wisely. At the same time, if governments are not fully aware of the costs and benefits for supply chain stakeholders, and for consumers, they risk mandating traceability regulations that are unaffordable or unsustainable.
Document Highlights:
- Companies and governments both have an interest in food traceability, but have differences in how they determine its optimal level. This report explores public and private interests affecting traceability adoption.
- Traceability can improve a company’s supply chain management systems, leading to more efficient production and shipping practices that cut costs.
- While traceability is valuable to numerous stakeholders because it serves both public interests and private interests, the expenses are not always evenly shared.
- Traceability systems can help companies cut food spoilage, and hold their transportation suppliers responsible for delivery speed and spoilage during transport.
- During a food safety incident, all levels of government work together to limit the risk to human health by coordinating recalls and communicating with the public.
- Companies and governments have some differences in how they assess the value of food traceability, and how they determine the optimal level of traceability.
- The primary forces behind new industry-led traceability systems are consumer food safety concerns and the demands of key buyers and export markets.
- The benefits of participation in traceability should be promoted by government and industry associations through education and promotional programs.
Potential solutions include:
- Make Traceability Systems Universal and Comprehensive; Develop Traceability Systems to Be Compatible; Mandate Minimum Requirements for Affordable Traceability Systems; Make Premises Identification Mandatory for Producers; Require Detailed Information to Handle Emergencies Quickly; Help Fund Firms’ Start-Up Costs and Encourage Flexible, Cost-Effective Systems; Promote the Benefits of Participation in Traceability; Use Continuous Evaluation to Improve System Performance. These potential solutions that could lead to more and better traceability systems, which meet both public and private interest priorities, are also examined in the report.”
