TRACEABILITY IN FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS

The European consumer has become increasingly concerned about the safety of food and the negative effects of bioindustrial production. This concern has been heightened by several sector-wide crises in the last decade (the dioxin crisis, classical swine fever, foot and mouth disease). Governments, both national and international, respond by imposing new legislation and regulations for the safety and quality of food products. Retailers react by imposing new demands on their suppliers. To comply with the new demands, companies are forced to introduce sophisticated information systems that focus on identification and registration, and tracking and tracing capabilities. For organizations in the food and agribusiness the interest in traceability is growing.