A new guide for applying traceability standards in the U.S. seafood supply chain was released by the National Fisheries Institute and GS1 US at this week’s International Boston Seafood Show.
The 53-page guide, which is free and available on the NFI website, was developed by NFI, GS1 US and industry representatives “to provide consistent, practical seafood-traceability guidance for voluntary industry-wide use.” It defines minimum requirements and best-practice recommendations for tracking seafood as it moves through the supply chain.
The guidelines are based on the GS1 System and apply to all types of seafood products for human consumption. The guide also applies to all levels of product hierarchy — including shipping logistics unit information, lots, pallets, cases and consumer items with data elements — and is relevant to all U.S. distribution channel participants, from farms and vessels to retailers and foodservice operators.
The guide includes illustrations and photographs that demonstrate precise how-to instructions for use of numerical identifiers, barcodes and other standards needed for traceability.
American Seafood, Bumble Bee Foods, Darden Restaurants, Glacier Fish, Gorton’s, Handy International, Icelandic Seafoods, Inland Seafoods, North Carolina State University, Pacific Seafoods, Red Chamber and Trace Register are among the organizations that contributed to the guide, according to NFI.
Click here to download the guide.
