• Product Identification Standards
• Automated Data Capture
• E-Commerce
• Data Synchronization
• Traceability

Technology & Standards: Traceability

Due to regulatory requirements such as the U.S. Bioterrorism Act, as well as ongoing food safety issues and the need for more information, traceability has become an issue of great importance to the produce industry.

In October 2002, PMA formed an alliance with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) to create a task force to research the requirements around traceability and to create a Best Practices document, as well as conduct a study on the validation of the guidelines contained in that document.

In January 2008, representatives from over 35 companies and 8 trade associations met as a part of the Produce Traceability Initiative to begin working on an action plan for external produce traceability. Cliff notes from each meeting will be posted and available for your review and input.

Related Documents (PDF)

Pallet & Case Coding: Best Practices   -  05/05/2008
Many segments of the distribuion network are determining ways to make supply chain integration more efficient. A key component of this is case and pallet coding. This document underscores the fresh produce industry's need to mark pallets and cases with bar codes, provides direction on what standardized data is relevant & gives examples of best practices.

Produce Traceability Initiative Cliff Notes - April 11, 2008   -  05/01/2008
Cliff Notes from April 2008 Traceability Initiative Meeting

GTIN Assignment Strategy   -  04/29/2008
A strategy recommended by PMA for produce companies to assign GTIN numbers at the case level.

Pallet Label Presentation   -  04/29/2008
Addresses the ability to read one pallet label for inbound receiving without having to read every single case and without having to electronically send the information contained on the pallet label ahead of time.

Produce Traceability Initiative Cliff Notes - February 22, 2008   -  04/07/2008
Cliff notes of February meeting of Produce Traceability Initiative.

Produce Traceability Initiative Cliff Notes - January 9, 2008   -  01/22/2008
Cliff notes from first Produce Traceability Initiative meeting

PMA/CPMA Fresh Produce Traceability Guide to Implementation   -  09/11/2007
Version 2 of PMA/CPMA Traceability Guide to Implementation

Traceability - A Forgotten Piece of Food Safety   -  04/13/2007
Traceability and food safety

Summary of Records Establishment and Maintenance Regulation   -  09/12/2006
PMA prepared a summary of the Records Establishment/ Maintenance section of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002. This is available to PMA members only.