Food chain integrity

Traceability in food chains is `the ability to trace and follow a food, feed, foodproducing animal or substance intended to be, or expected to be incorporated
into a food or feed, through all stages of production, processing and distribution'
(Regulation EC no. 178/2002). It also entails the `ability to trace the history,
application or location of an entity, by means of recorded identification' (Moe,
1998). Traceability systems support processes through which information on
food origins, attributes and processing technologies is gathered and made available throughout a supply chain. Generally speaking, they are data recording
and management systems designed to track forwards as well as trace backwards,
following not only product flows (or `items' as an abstract concept), but also
product `attributes'. Traceability contributes to the demonstration of the transparency of the supply chain through the use of verifiable records and labelling