some 34 companies from throughout the produce supply chain have endorsed a new plan developed by the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) to move the supply chain to a common standard for electronic produce traceability by the end of 2012.

The plan involves adopting a standardised system of case barcoding for all produce sold in the US, to allow product to be tracked throughout the distribution chain.

The plan will maximise the effectiveness of the industry’s current traceability procedures, improve internal efficiencies and assist public officials when they need to quickly trace back a product. Intended to enhance overall supply chain traceability in speed and efficiency, a standardised system could significantly improve the industry’s ability to narrow the impact of potential recalls or similar problems.

The PTI is administered by the PMA, United Fresh Produce Association (United Fresh) and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA). The 34 companies endorsing the plan are members of the PTI’s supply chain-wide Steering Committee.

Established in late 2007 to implement industry traceability best practices and set goals for their adoption and accountability, the PTI Steering Committee has been working since then to develop a plan for moving industry to chain-wide, electronic traceability.

PTI Steering Committee chair and Food Lion, LLC chief operating officer Cathy Green, said: “We have seen the need for supply chain-wide, electronic traceability across the industry so that we are able to trace product more quickly and efficiently than we can now. The new plan is achievable by companies large and small across the entire supply chain, works with companies’ existing information management systems, and supports public health goals, as well as provides industry benefits. Implementing this initiative across the industry will require a multi-year transition effort, but is achievable.”

The PTI’s genesis dates back to 2002, when PMA and CPMA first began working to address produce traceability by promoting the adoption of standardised, state-of-the-art processes across the industry.

Steering Committee member Tom Casas, vice-president of information technology and mechanization at Tanimura & Antle, Salinas, California, noted that electronic traceability will offer new-found benefits to the produce supply chain, stressing that the increased cost should be viewed as an investment in the industry, and another step toward enhancing industry practices.

“This will help our industry and food safety regulators to narrow the impact of recalls, protecting both consumers and industry members who aren’t directly involved,” said Casas.

Steering Committee member Steve Grinstead, president and ceo of Pro*Act, Dallas, said: “This is a huge, but necessary, undertaking for our industry. The good thing about this solution is companies don’t need to scrap their current tracking systems, just augment them.”

CPMA supports the enhanced implementation of traceability in the US via this initiative, and will continue to support those members who move to implement the action plan to meet US market needs.

“I invite every member of the supply chain to join with these industry leaders who have already agreed to take the necessary steps to help fulfil this important initiative,” said Green.

The plan features sharing of common information across the supply chain, building on companies’ current internal traceability systems, and using the existing foundation provided by international standards from the GS1 organisation. The initiative also provides the capacity to achieve external traceability by standardising the incorporation of two critical pieces of traceability information: a Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN), and a lot number.

The three associations plan industry outreach, communications, education, and public advocacy to help implement the scheme. A broad range of education activities is planned to help the industry move towards enhanced traceability.