Development of a Ubiquitous Information Technology Based Distribution Traceability Management System for Imported Beef in Korea

A distribution traceability management system for imported beef based on ubiquitous information technology (u-IT) was developed by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Korea to manage the distribution traceability and to trade reliable beef. The system was developed for the seller, government official, and consumer, separately by considering users' convenience, Distributors of imported beef registered and managed the distribution traceability on the computerized system, and government officials could monitor distribution managements and deal with recall immediately when the beef at risk was alerted. The information for the imported risk beef is rapidly transferred by the Sort Message Service (SMS), and sales of beef can be prevented by an electronic balance based on u-IT or by a credit card terminal. The developed system will be broadly used from December 2010 after testing the system within restricted areas as a model.