Food Traceability Guidance

The document was elaborated under the FAO project: TCP/SLC/3403 – “Strengthening capacity for a rapid response to food safety events through enhancement of the food traceability and recall legislation and systems in the Caribbean Sub region” and validated based on several pilots conducted within the EU-funded project implemented by IICA (‘SPS Project’): Support to the Forum of Caribbean States in the implementation of the commitments undertaken under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA): Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures”.

This document covers specific sectors that were identified in each of the four beneficiary countries for the provision of detailed guidance within the scope of TCP/SLC/3403 and the SPS Project. These are:

. Antigua and Barbuda- fisheries, pineapple, carrot and onion sectors
. Barbados- poultry, fisheries, and condiments sectors
. Dominica- fresh produce, agro-processing and fisheries sectors
. Grenada- nutmeg, cocoa, fisheries, and fresh produce sectors

This practical Guidance is intended for those responsible for implementing traceability in their organization’s operations and supply chain. The scope establishes both the minimum requirements and the best practices for the sharing of information along the supply chain. This guide covers:

. Traceability practices from the supplier’s processing facility to the point of sale to the consumer;
. All food products for human consumption;
. All levels of the product hierarchy, including pallets, cases and consumer items; and
. All supply chain segments including, suppliers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers.

The minimum requirements presented in this Guidance are based on the assessment of the available national legislation or legislation that may support or influence food traceability and recall in each beneficiary country, the evaluation of the traceability situation on-site, the results of the pilots, the US and Europe traceability legislation, and the best practices recommended based on the information collected from several referenced documents.

After introductory chapters about general background, Traceability and Recall definitions, system requirements and references used, this document devotes several chapters to present detailed and specific implementation traceability and recall guidelines for growers, packers, exporters / importers, manufacturers, processors and distributors as well as their customers and suppliers with examples and business scenarios.