The importance of traceability in the meat industry

Ensuring food safety

Traceability is essential for promptly identifying and removing contaminated products from the supply chain, thereby safeguarding public health. For example, during the BSE (mad cow disease) crisis, the UK’s implementation of a cattle passport system enabled effective tracking and management of affected livestock.

Building consumer trust

Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency regarding the origins of their food. Robust traceability systems provide this transparency, allowing consumers to make informed choices and fostering trust in meat products.

Compliance with UK regulations

In the UK, stringent regulations mandate comprehensive traceability in the meat industry:

• General Food Law Regulation: This regulation establishes the legal framework for food safety in the UK, requiring food business operators (FBOs) to maintain comprehensive traceability records. It mandates that businesses must be able to identify their suppliers and customers at all times to enable quick response in case of food safety incidents.
• Regulation (EC) No 853/2004: Establishes specific hygiene requirements for food of animal origin, including the necessity of identification marks on meat products to confirm their traceability and fitness for human consumption.
• Compulsory Beef Labelling Scheme: Enforced by the Rural Payments Agency, this scheme requires all beef products to carry labels with essential traceability details, including country of birth, rearing, slaughter, and cutting. This ensures full transparency and compliance with food safety laws.
• Traceability and Labelling Information for Fish Products: While this guidance specifically addresses fish products, it sets an important precedent for traceability in the wider food industry. It outlines the legal obligations for businesses to maintain records detailing where fish products were sourced, processed, and distributed – principles that also apply to the meat sector.

Hellenic Systems: Facilitating compliance and efficiency

At Hellenic Systems, we specialise in providing advanced solutions that assist meat industry businesses in maintaining compliance and enhancing operational efficiency. Our products are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing processes, ensuring that traceability and quality control are upheld.

We provide advanced hardware and software solutions that support businesses in maintaining full traceability and regulatory compliance. Our products are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing processes, helping to automate tracking, reduce errors, and improve overall efficiency in meat processing and supply chain management.

• Factory Order Processing System v8 (FOPS8): A streamlined order control and monitoring system that helps manage meat production workflows efficiently, ensuring accurate tracking from procurement to despatch.
• Recipe Management System: Ensures that ingredient formulations and processing data are correctly documented and communicated, reducing the risk of mislabelling and enhancing traceability.
• FOPS8 Warehouse Management System: Provides real-time visibility into inventory, allowing businesses to track raw materials and finished products with precision.
• Kill Line and Livestock System: Makes meat traceability easier and more accurate. It tracks each animal from arrival to processing, linking its ID to all key data. This reduces errors, meets food safety rules, keeps clear records at every step, and provides processors a reliable way to trace meat back to its source.

By implementing robust traceability practices and leveraging advanced technology, food manufacturers can significantly reduce the risk of compliance breaches, product recalls, and safety incidents – protecting both consumer trust and business integrity.

For more information on how Hellenic Systems can help your business strengthen traceability, get in touch for a chat.