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FSMA Produce Safety Rule: Cultivating Compliance in Agriculture

Posted on February 13, 2024February 14, 2024 by rfxadmin

The Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) is going to have a major impact on the food industry. FSMA gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement capabilities to promote food safety, transparency, and quality, and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule is particularly important to the changes.

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule applies to commercial growers, harvesters, and packers of produce. The rule includes preventive controls designed to mitigate the spread of pathogens and foodborne illness through agricultural water, wild animals, and any raw agricultural commodity designed for human consumption. Here’s what you need to know.

Importance and Business Value of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule

In effect since January 26, 2016, the FSMA Produce Safety Rule (“Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption”) is a major step forward for agricultural traceability, food safety, and public health. As the FDA explains, it “establishes, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. The rule is part of the Agency’s ongoing efforts to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.”

Familiarizing yourself with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule will help comply USDA and FDA regulations, avoid fines or other regulatory penalties, and promote business continuity. From a value-addition perspective, compliance means you’ll safeguard your products, appeal to consumer demands for transparency and accountability, and protect your brand reputation.

Key Components of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule is built around Good Agricultural Practices. Those practices address the following areas:

Agricultural Water

Water, essential in agriculture, can be a major source of contamination. Both production and post-harvest water require careful management, which may include:

- - Regular testing and monitoring of surface and ground water for pathogens
  - Water treatment to meet safety standards
  - Maintenance and inspection of water sources

Strictly monitoring and protecting water is vital for ensuring compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

Employee Health and Hygiene

Employee health and hygiene are paramount when dealing with produce for human consumption. When workers are sick or lacking training, they’re more likely to become (unintentional) sources of contamination.

Examples of health and hygiene requirements include instructing employees to notify their supervisors if they may have a health condition that may result in contamination of covered produce or food contact surfaces, using hygienic practices when handling such produce or surfaces (e.g., washing and drying hands, and taking measures to prevent visitors from contaminating produce and surfaces).

Domesticated and Wild Animals

Grazing animals (e.g., livestock), animals used for work applications, and wild animals (e.g., deer and feral swine), can compromise produce safety. The FSMA Produce Safety Rule requires farmers “to take all measures reasonably necessary to identify and not harvest produce that is likely to be contaminated.”

These measures include visually examining the growing area and all covered produce to be harvested and, in some circumstances, conducting an additional assessment during the growing season and taking reasonable steps to assist during harvest if significant evidence of potential contamination by animals is found, such as placing flags outlining an affected area.

Biological Soil Amendments

Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO) are soil amendments that contain materials of animal origin. These materials may include raw manure or non-fecal byproducts such as table waste, animal carcasses, or any combination thereof.

Though biological soil additives can enhance the quality and nutrient profile of soil, they also carry some risks. Therefore, make sure that any additives are properly treated to reduce pathogens.

Production of Sprouts

Sprouts are particularly vulnerable to contamination by dangerous microbes due to the warm, moist, and nutrient-rich conditions needed to grow them. The FSMA Produce Safety Rule has requirements to help prevent the contamination of sprouts, such as:

- - Taking measures to prevent the introduction of dangerous microbes into or onto seeds or beans used for sprouting
  - Treating seeds or beans that will be used for sprouting (or relying on prior treatment by the seed/bean grower, distributor, or supplier with appropriate documentation)
  - Testing irrigation water for certain pathogens and attaining negative results
  - Testing the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding environment for the Listeria species or Listeria monocytogenes
  - Taking corrective actions if spent sprout irrigation water, sprouts, and/or an environmental sample tests positive

Equipment, Buildings, Tools, and Sanitation

The condition and cleanliness of your farm’s infrastructure — greenhouses, germination chambers, and toilet and hand-washing facilities — play a crucial role in compliance and safety. The FSMA Produce Safety Rule establishes standards related to equipment, tools, and buildings to prevent them from contaminating produce, including from inadequate sanitation.

Therefore, you should establish a routine for cleaning and sanitizing tools, equipment, and buildings. Regularly inspect and maintain equipment to prevent it from becoming a contamination source. Where possible, design facilities and equipment to be easily cleaned and to prevent harborage of pests and accumulation of dirt.

Compliance Guidelines for Farmers

The FDA provides resources explaining FSMA requirements, including the Produce Safety Rule. Let’s look at some practical tips for promoting and simplifying compliance.

One major hurdle is creating an actual compliance policy. If you run a farm, you need a comprehensive policy that addresses all facets of the Rule. This fact sheet from USDA is a helpful tool for designing and implementing your policy. If you operate a large farm, read the FDA’s “What to Expect Now That Larger Farms Must Comply with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule” here. Also check out the Sprout Safety Alliance at the Illinois Institute of Technology and the Produce Safety Alliance at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, for example.

Once you know which rules apply to your farm, develop a plan to address each relevant area. Remember, incremental improvements to enhance safety is a place to start; you don’t have to revamp your entire operation overnight.

Recordkeeping and Documentation

FSMA 204 establishes additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for companies that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods included on the Food Traceability List (FTL). If the Produce Safety Rule applies to your business, you should also familiarize yourself with The Final Rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods — also known as the “Food Traceability Final Rule.”

FSMA 204 requires you to maintain (keep) and share accurate records of your products as they move through the supply chain. If you get audited, you’ll have to produce these records. Download our food traceability white paper to learn more about these requirements.

Water Quality and Agricultural Practices

The water quality provision (and most other provisions) of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule went into effect in 2018. Since then, the FDA has been ramping up enforcement actions. They have paid particularly close attention to water quality. Under the rule, you have to test the untreated groundwater for generic E. coli. If you use water that has been treated with a validated process or from a public source, testing is not required. Additionally, you are prohibited from using any untreated surface water for harvest or post-harvest purposes.

Soil Amendments

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule includes other provisions regarding soil usage — specifically, the introduction of animal byproducts into your soil. If using raw manure or any other animal byproducts to enhance soil productivity, you must take precautions to mitigate the risk of contamination. Be careful when sourcing manure and other animal-based soil enhancements, and always verify that the provider is compliant with FSMA provisions.

Final Thoughts: Being Proactive Simplifies FSMA Compliance

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule is being enforced now, and the deadline to comply with FSMA 204 traceability requirements is January 20, 2026. As we’ve said all along, the key to FSMA success is to be proactive. Specifically:

- - Study the law and know your obligations and your trading partners’ obligations.
  - Talk with your trading partners to ensure they’re compliant now and preparing for January 2026.
  - Assess your operations for compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and Food Traceability Final Rule.
  - Make sure you’re working with a knowledgeable and reliable solution provider — someone who can help you comply while keeping your supply chain moving at peak performance and leveraging the FSMA regulations to create business opportunities.

This is where we can help. We offer a full-stack solution for the food industry. We can answer your questions, show you in concrete detail how we create end-to-end traceability in supply chains, and discuss how to use traceability to safeguard your brand and protect your bottom line. Contact us today to talk with us and schedule a demo.

And read this if you’re interested in learning about how rfxcel technology helped a major berry producer control the safety and quality of more than 1.5 billion products.

FSMA Rules: A Guide to FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Regulations

Posted on August 7, 2023October 12, 2023 by rfxadmin

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is transforming the food supply chain in the United States. Learn about FSMA requirements and how they affect the food industry.

Understanding the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in 2011, aims to reduce foodborne illness, protect the U.S. food supply, and ensure public health. The law gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate the production, processing, packing, and transport of food throughout the country.

The FDA has finalized nine major rules through FSMA that address different aspects of the food supply chain. FSMA covers both human and animal food, and the rules are designed to address issues such as traceability, sanitation, produce safety, and supplier verification.

7 FSMA rules and requirements

Through FSMA, the FDA has issued rules that govern food production and distribution. The food traceability final rule established additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for persons who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods included on the Food Traceability List (FTL). Additionally, there are seven main roles that the FDA implemented in the final FSMA rules.

- 1. Preventive Controls for Human and Animal Food: Require food facilities to meet Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements, conduct hazard analyses, and establish risk-based preventive controls.
  2. Produce Safety Rule: Established science-based standards for the production, packing, and storage of fruits and vegetables on farms in the U.S. and other countries.
  3. Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP): Requires foreign suppliers to show that they are meeting food safety standards required in the U.S.
  4. Sanitary Transportation Rule: Established regulations for the sanitary transportation of human and animal food.
  5. Accredited Third-Party Certification Rule: Created a program to accredit specific third-party certification bodies to conduct food safety system audits of foreign facilities.
  6. Protection Against Intentional Adulteration: Aims to address the probability of an outbreak due to potential food safety risks of intentional adulteration.
  7. Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP): fee-based program provided by the FDA FSMA to foreign food facilities that intend to import their products into the country.

Other rules concern protection against intentional adulteration of food and guidelines for the use of agricultural water.

Compliance strategies for FSMA

Navigating FSMA can be complicated, especially as rules are proposed, reviewed, and finalized. To implement effective compliance strategies, organizations should:

- - Review: Start by conducting a thorough review of FSMA requirements to understand which rules apply to your business.
  - Develop: Create a robust FSMA food safety plan that’s tailored to your operations, including hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP).
  - Implement: Establish preventive controls and monitoring systems across the organization and have a plan in place for food recalls.
  - Verify: Use audits and validation procedures to ensure compliance.

Implementing FSMA’s Preventive Controls and Hazard Analysis

FSMA’s Preventive Controls for Human Food, finalized in 2015, was created to minimize and prevent hazards at food facilities. Key components of this rule include:

- - Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) revisions: FSMA updated FDA’s existing CGMP requirements to create binding requirements for employee education and training.
  - Food safety plans: The rule created new requirements for risk-based preventive controls and hazard analysis at food facilities, including sanitation practices and allergen controls.

Businesses covered under the Preventive Controls rule must perform a hazard analysis of their facilities and products, implement food safety practices, and provide ongoing monitoring and verification of all preventive controls.

Ensuring FSMA compliance in supply chain management

Even if you’re confident about your organization’s food safety practices, you need to know that your supply chain partners are holding themselves to the same standards. Establishing clear supplier approval and verification processes can help you thoroughly vet the growers, suppliers, processors, or distributors you work with.

By implementing traceability and documentation requirements, you’ll be able to track specific products and lots in real-time. As with your internal processes, conduct regular assessments to ensure suppliers and co-manufacturers are maintaining FSMA compliance.

Final thoughts: FSMA rules and regulations

The worldwide food industry should monitor events in the United States as FSMA traceability requirements evolve. It’s not just about compliance and being able to sell products in America; it’s about being able to anticipate regulatory trends, keeping your supply chain moving at peak performance, and leading in the industry through adaptation and innovation. It’s also about leveraging the FSMA regulations to create business opportunities.

We understand the importance of complying with FSMA and other regulations for the food and beverage industry. We have extensive experience delivering tailored traceability, visibility, and transparency solutions that not only help ensure compliance, but also create added value for operational efficiency, brand protection, and customer loyalty. Contact us today and one of our traceability experts will show you how it works.

And be sure to download our “Traceability in the Food Supply Chain” white paper, which explains the FSMA Food Traceability List and the Food Traceability Final Rule in detail.

The Importance of Food Traceability: Impacts on Safety and Business

Posted on August 7, 2023 by rfxadmin

As food traceability regulations continue to evolve, it can be difficult to navigate requirements and ensure you remain compliant everywhere you do business. Find out more about the traceability of food products in this guide from Antares Vision Group and rfxcel.

Understanding food traceability

In broad terms, traceability is the process of utilizing data to know the history of everything in your supply chain — every input and ingredient, every finished product. Traceability empowers you to know where something came from, where it has been, and where it is right now. It’s the ability to find granular details about the past and present of an item.

No matter your role in the supply chain, food traceability can play a vital role in securing and improving your business, from ensuring you comply with regulations to helping manage risks (e.g., making recalls faster and more accurate) and connecting with consumers.

Benefits of food traceability

The advantages of a strong food traceability system for you, your partners, and your customers include:

- - Food safety: Traceability reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses and helps ensure your products are safe for consumption.
  - Risk mitigation: If a food safety issue does arise, traceability facilitates prompt, informed responses. For example, traceability speeds food recalls and targeted product withdrawals to minimize the impact on public health and lessen interruptions to your operations.
  - Operational efficiency: Food traceability solutions act across your supply chain to improve operations and make it easier to manage your inventory.
  - Trust: Food traceability can help build consumer trust and confidence through transparent processes and demonstrating that you are a reliable brand whose products are exactly what you say they are.

Key elements of food traceability

The primary components of a good food traceability system include:

- - Identification: Companies must be able to trace individual products and raw materials back to specific locations, batches, lots, etc.
  - Product tracing: Each product must be traceable from farm to fork, with granular documentation that captures its journey at every stage of the supply chain.
  - Data capture and management: A strong, centralized system is needed for collecting, analyzing, sharing, and storing traceability records.
  - Authentication: Verification tools ensure the accuracy and integrity of food traceability data and can help resolve errors before they affect other parts of the supply chain.

Implementing food traceability systems

Here are some things to consider if you want to implement a new food traceability solution or improve your existing systems:

- - Evaluate: Start by assessing traceability requirements and regulatory obligations. Examine what industry leaders are doing to identify best practices and opportunities.
  - Select tools: Choose the appropriate traceability technologies and systems for the type of products you grow, pack, process, distribute, etc. (Working with a reliable, experienced solution provider is essential.)
  - Implement processes: Establish your traceability protocols and standard operating procedures, training relevant staff. (Again, make sure you’re working with a solution provider that will work with you and your team to ensure implementation is quick and efficient.)
  - Collaborate: Work with partners and stakeholders to implement traceability measures across the supply chain.

Food traceability in action: U.S. FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

Passed in 2011, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) made sweeping reforms to food safety regulations in the United States. The legislation empowered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to create and enforce rules on how food is harvested, processed, stored, and distributed throughout the United States.

FSMA’s No. 1 goal is to reduce the rates of illness from foodborne pathogens; food traceability is an important component of the FDA’s strategy to achieve that goal. The Agency’s primary guidance for traceability is the Food Traceability Final Rule, which went into effect in November 2022. It establishes additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for businesses that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the Food Traceability List (FTL).

These food supply chain stakeholders are responsible for establishing and maintaining critical tracking events (CTEs) and associated key data elements (KDEs) for events such as harvesting, cooling, packing, and receiving. CTEs and KDEs are the building blocks of food traceability under FSMA. Read our food traceability white paper to learn how they work.

What food products are required to be traced under FSMA?

FSMA’s Food Traceability Final Rule sets the recordkeeping requirements for any business that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds foods on the Food Traceability List, which includes almost 20 types of food, such as:

Fresh fruits and vegetables
Leafy greens
Melons
Nut butters
Finfish
Crustaceans
Soft cheeses
Ready-to-eat deli salads

Final thoughts: food traceability

Traceability is essential to ensure the safety, transparency, and quality of the global food supply chain. Our goal is to equip businesses with modern food traceability solutions that improve operational efficiencies, comply with regulations, foster consumer confidence, and help create a more secure and transparent food industry. Offering end-to-end traceability, visibility, and transparency, our solutions for the food and beverage industry make it easy to track and trace products across every step of the supply chain. Contact us today to speak with one of our traceability experts and see a short demo of how our solutions work.

The Ultimate Guide to Supply Chain Visibility: Enhancing Efficiency and Performance

Posted on July 7, 2023August 4, 2023 by rfxadmin

The ability to monitor each part of your supply chain helps your business mitigate risk, serve customers better, and work more efficiently. Find out more about the importance of supply chain visibility in this guide from Antares Vision Group and rfxcel.

Understanding Supply Chain Visibility

Modern business operations require a high level of coordination and logistics. A company may source raw materials from one location, have a manufacturing facility in another location, and deliver products to customers all over the world. To produce, package, and ship goods efficiently, they need a centralized tracking system.

Supply chain visibility traces a product from its raw materials and through the manufacturing process to the point at which it reaches a customer’s doorstep. A visibility solution allows a business to track all its goods through every step in the supply chain. Supply chain visibility can:

Increase efficiency
Ensure customer satisfaction
Inform decision-making
Improve sustainability

Ultimately, visibility – or lack thereof – affects your bottom line.

Benefits of Supply Chain Visibility

To stay competitive in today’s globalized economy, businesses need efficient systems for monitoring supply and demand. Supply chain visibility benefits include:

Tracking: Real-time tracking and traceability tools streamline inventory management, offering automation for many routine tasks.
Efficiency: Visibility tools enhance the accuracy of demand forecasting and reduce the likelihood of stockouts.
Risk management: Full visibility means that teams can respond more quickly when there is a supply chain disruption, mitigating the risk and minimizing delays.
Optimization and better collaboration: Supply chain management systems help companies communicate better with suppliers, optimizing relationships and fostering collaboration.

Key Components of Supply Chain Visibility

Although supply chain visibility systems may differ from company to company, they all focus on transparency at each node of the supply chain. This includes:

Inventory visibility: Companies can track and manage inventory levels and procurement across all their locations.
Transportation visibility: All products in transit can be tracked and monitored in real time.
Demand visibility: Robust supply chain network data allows businesses to understand customer patterns and forecast demand more accurately.
Supplier visibility: Real-time visibility tools allow you to monitor supplier performance and ensure timely deliveries.
Data visibility: By collecting information about inventory, transportation times, and more, companies can turn data analytics into actionable insights and adjust workflows or supply chain processes.

Implementing Supply Chain Visibility

Putting supply chain visibility tools into place takes time and effort, but it’s well worth the benefits you’ll reap in operational efficiency and better business performance. To implement supply chain visibility, start by assessing your current systems. Look for areas of improvement across the supply chain – have you experienced stockouts in a particular product line? Do you struggle to meet customer demand at a certain time of year?

Next, look for the right technology solutions that can enhance visibility across your entire ecosystem. Perhaps you have a good system in place for monitoring customer orders but need a better way to manage suppliers. Look for supply chain software that can integrate with your existing systems and address gaps in visibility.

You need a seamless flow of information across your technology platforms. Additionally, prioritize data security in any supply chain visibility initiative. Compliance with data privacy regulations is a must for your company, as well as any suppliers, shippers, or distributors you work with.

Best Practices for Supply Chain Visibility

Whether you work in pharmaceuticals or food and beverage, certain practices will improve visibility across the entire supply chain. These include:

Metrics: Have a clear set of goals and metrics in place that you will use to measure your success.
Collaboration: Build strong partnerships with suppliers to enhance transparency and efficiency.
Technology: Invest in cloud-based platforms and advanced analytics tools with built-in supply chain security.

Above all, adopt a proactive approach to risk management and contingency planning. While some supply chain disruptions are out of your control, having a plan in place will make it easier to minimize inefficiencies and shortages.

Overcoming Challenges in Supply Chain Visibility

Even with the best-laid plans, you may face roadblocks when trying to improve end-to-end supply chain visibility. Potential challenges include:

Supply chain data quality issues and data silos
Resistance to change and organizational barriers
Regulatory compliance and data privacy concerns

Managing a significant volume of data, especially when you are working in the context of a complex global supply chain with multiple partners and stakeholders, can feel overwhelming. That’s why it’s so important to find supply chain visibility software that integrates with all your data collection systems. You should look for a software service provider that is well-versed in regulatory compliance and has built-in data protections.

Understand that even when you choose an intuitive, user-friendly system, you’re likely to face pushback from some employees or partners. Plan a thoughtful implementation and roll-out process, with time built in for staff training. This will help address any concerns.

The Future of Supply Chain Visibility

Emerging technologies and digital transformation are changing the supply chain management landscape. Already, we’re seeing the value of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in supply chain software solutions. AI-powered tools can analyze real-time data to inform forecasting, using predictive analytics to inform orders, pricing, warehouse placement, and more.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technology are also shaping supply chain visibility. By giving all supply chain stakeholders access to the same information, blockchain tools can potentially reduce fraud and data errors while improving communication. And the proliferation of IoT devices means that real-time tracking is easier throughout order processing and delivery.

We’ll Help You Achieve Supply Chain Visibility

We offer supply chain visibility solutions that prioritize efficiency and compliance management. With offices in the United States and abroad, we serve clients in sectors including:

Pharmaceuticals
Food
Beverage
Consumer goods
Government

For information on our supply chain visibility tools or to request pricing, contact us today.

The Power of Supply Chain Visibility Tools: Revolutionizing Efficiency and Transparency

Posted on July 7, 2023August 4, 2023 by rfxadmin

Today’s businesses work all over the world. Companies need sophisticated tools to track and monitor products as they move through the supply chain. Learn more about supply chain visibility tools and solutions in this guide from Antares Vision Group and rfxcel.

Understanding Supply Chain Visibility Tools

At its core, supply chain visibility is the ability to track raw materials, individual parts, and finished products, regardless of where they are located or what phase of production they are in. Visibility and connectivity are critical in modern supply chain management, as suppliers and distributors can be located in different regions or even different countries. Businesses use supply chain planning software to monitor orders in transit, reduce lead times, and send notifications to stakeholders.

Supply chain traceability systems help companies monitor each step of product manufacturing and shipping. These tools can identify weaknesses or communication breakdowns, plan for inventory shortages and procurement needs, and resolve minor issues before they become bigger supply chain disruptions. Plus, these tools improve accountability and transparency throughout a business, including with partners. Ultimately, the goal of using these tools is to optimize operational efficiency and supply chain performance.

Benefits of Supply Chain Visibility Tools

Implementing supply chain traceability software offers many benefits:

Monitor products: Companies have access to real-time tracking and monitoring of their inventory, orders, and shipments.
Traceability: Individual products and shipments can be traced from start to finish, helping to ensure orders arrive on time.
Efficiency: With real-time visibility tools, supply chain managers can improve demand forecasting, allow for better inventory management, and minimize inefficiencies.
Better business relationships: Companies can enhance their collaboration and communication with suppliers and other providers over the long term.
Risk management: With visibility tools, companies can identify supply chain issues and address them head-on, lowering their risk profile and improving their relationships with consumers and service providers.

Key Features of Supply Chain Visibility Software and Tools

Most supply chain management tools have a few key features in common. These include:

Real-time supply chain visibility: Shipments can be geolocated and monitored at each stage of supply chain processes, allowing for tracking and tracing in real time.
Inventory visibility: Companies can monitor and manage inventory levels at each business location through user-friendly dashboards.
Data analytics and reporting: Visibility software collects and analyzes data to provide actionable, real-time insights and streamline supply chain operations. This can help improve order management and planning for replenishment as needed.
Collaboration and communication: Visibility tools make it easier for employees across the supply chain to communicate with each other and with trading partners and other stakeholders. This helps break down departmental silos.

Implementing Supply Chain Visibility Solutions

With so many different ways to approach supply chain visibility, it can be difficult to know where to start. Be intentional in your implementation process to reduce pushback:

Assess: Start by evaluating your supply chain requirements and current pain points. What’s working well, and what isn’t?
Evaluate: Create a list of functionality requirements for your supply chain visibility software. Compare available tools against your set of needs to select the right supply chain visibility tool for your business.
Implement: Integrate the tool you choose with your existing systems and data sources so you’re not reinventing the wheel.
Train: Set aside ample time for onboarding employees who will be using the new system.

Best Practices for Utilizing Supply Chain Visibility Tools

When it comes to global supply chain visibility platforms, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Whether you choose a cloud-based SaaS application or an on-premise platform, there are a few best practices that can make the implementation process smoother:

Define clear objectives and metrics for measuring success at your organization.
Establish standardized data formats and processes across the entire supply chain.
Encourage collaboration and information sharing among all logistics service partners and other third parties.
Continuously monitor your tracking processes to improve data quality and workflows.

Ensuring Data Security and Privacy in Supply Chain Visibility

Although sharing real-time data with outside partners and shippers can improve supply chain efficiency and optimization, it also carries a degree of inherent risk. Ensuring data security and protecting your privacy, as well as that of your customers, is paramount.

Look for visibility software that offers high-level, customizable security settings. You should implement secure data-sharing protocols and access controls across all supplier, manufacturer, and distributor partnerships. Any third party that your business works with must know how to comply with the relevant data protection regulations for your sector, such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The Future of End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility Tools

As artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology improve, companies will have even more granular control over the supply chain ecosystem and can incorporate automation. Predictive analytics and machine learning have the potential to help with proactive decision-making to improve demand planning and reduce transportation management challenges. Additionally, as more and more industries adopt blockchain technology, companies will be better equipped to minimize fraud and waste.

Find the Best Supply Chain Visibility Software

To stay competitive in today’s dynamic market landscape, businesses need customizable, sophisticated enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools that drive efficiency and improve customer satisfaction. Antares Vision Group provides tailored solutions to improve supply chain management, prioritizing efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Our software offers end-to-end visibility, providing traceability at each step with an eye toward sustainability. We even offer blockchain -based supply chain traceability solutions. Our solutions work with pharmaceutical, food, beverage, and consumer goods companies all over the world. For more information about our supply chain visibility platform, contact rfxcel today.

Compliance Management: Key Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Posted on June 12, 2023August 4, 2023 by rfxadmin

Effective compliance management takes time and effort, but it’s much better to be prepared and prevent problems before they occur. Violating the regulations that govern your industry means you risk losing customers, damaging your reputation, and hurting your bottom line. Fortunately, taking a proactive approach means you can address many of the compliance challenges that companies face. Let’s take a closer look at compliance management systems and their benefits.

What Is Compliance Management?

Companies in any sector must understand and follow the local, state, federal, or international regulations that affect how they do business. Compliance management is the set of tools and procedures that a business uses to ensure they follow the laws that govern its industry. Regulatory requirements may be established by:

Government entities
Labor unions
Trade associations or other industry organizations

For example, pharmaceutical companies have to comply with the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), whose requirements include product serialization and electronic, interoperable data exchange. Similarly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has specific requirements for traceability and data-sharing.

Why Is Compliance Management Important?

Compliance requirements are often in place to ensure ethical behavior toward customers or competitors. Clear, enforceable regulations set standards for businesses, governments, and civil society organizations.

Failure to adhere to applicable laws or regulations could result in fines, fees, suspension of business operations, revocation of licenses or certifications, or other compliance issues. Thus, many businesses create and establish governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) programs to minimize their risk.

Three Approaches to Compliance Management

A compliance management solution can vary from simple to complex and must be uniquely tailored to suit an organization’s structure and industry. Three common methods of compliance management are:

Strict, Top-Down Approach

This is the most rigid approach to compliance management. Internal policies are created and implemented by the person or team at the top of the organizational chart. There is no room for flexibility or interpretation. A top-down model is usually needed when the health, safety, and welfare of employees or the people they serve are paramount. For example, a daycare operator must follow all the state and local regulations created to keep minors safe.

Hands-Off Approach

In contrast, a hands-off approach is the most flexible type of compliance management. In this model, leadership may establish compliance standards, but the implementation of day-to-day business processes is handed off to middle managers or other employees.

This approach can work in certain situations. For example, a franchisor that has retail food establishments in different states may be subject to health department inspections in each state. Recognizing that each franchisee is subject to a different set of regulations, they may leave it up to each site manager to implement training or an inspection checklist at their respective franchise.

Shared or Distributed Model

In this approach, compliance activities are shared by employees across the organization. Instead of receiving strict guidelines from a central authority, departments or teams may share the responsibility of creating and implementing compliance activities. Or, the organization may issue a central policy and solicit feedback from employees on what to change or improve. A distributed model can work especially well when companies are implementing newly issued regulations and need feedback from staff on the front lines of their industry.

Compliance Management Challenges

Thoughtful, proactive implementation of compliance measures helps save time and money down the line. But compliance management is not without its challenges, which can include:

Evolving regulatory landscape: Whether you’re a startup or a multinational corporation, keeping up with new and changing regulations can be difficult. In an increasingly complex corporate environment, it makes sense that organizations may struggle to stay up to date.

Changing working environments: In recent years, more and more businesses have embraced a hybrid work model. While letting employees work from anywhere can help organizations stay nimble, it also exposes them to a new set of cybersecurity risks and HR challenges.

Vendor management: You can’t be an expert in everything. Understandably, businesses often partner with third-party vendors for certain services, whether it’s benefits management, IT support, or legal services. Improper vetting or insufficient due diligence can mean that you end up working with vendors that are out of compliance with your industry requirements.

Pharmaceutical, Food and Beverage, and Cosmetics

Companies in the pharmaceutical, food, and beverage, and cosmetics industries face unique challenges when it comes to compliance management. Consumers need to know that the food they eat, the medicine they take, and the personal care products they use are safe.

Pharmaceutical compliance regulations such as the U.S. DSCSA and the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (EU FMD) are in place to improve patient safety, ensure product integrity, and keep counterfeit drugs out of the supply chain. For the food industry, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and guidelines like the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), are in place to make the food supply safer and reduce rates of foodborne illness. Regulations for cosmetics vary widely from country to country, but generally, companies must take steps to ensure their products are safe, have complete ingredient labels, and they can verify their labeling claims.

Throughout all these industries, regulatory bodies are increasingly looking to improve supply chain transparency and traceability.

Compliance Management Best Practices

Companies can support regulatory compliance through best practices such as:

Thorough documentation: When in doubt, document everything, even if it’s not mandated by law. A central document repository makes it easy for employees across the organization to find the information they need and prevent non-compliance.

Set data standards: Be sure that you’re meeting the industry standards for high-quality data across all business operations. Inaccurate or incomplete data means you’ll be less prepared for accurate compliance reporting.

Education and engagement: Know your industry inside and out. Staying connected with industry associations, participating in continuing education, and attending events and conferences helps the organization stay up to date on industry changes and trends.

How to Create a Compliance Management Program

Whether you’re implementing compliance management at a new business or overhauling an existing compliance program, these steps are critical:

Conduct a Thorough Risk Assessment

Start by assessing internal and external risks that could affect regulatory compliance. Review each department to identify and document potential issues and to collect qualitative and quantitative data that you can compare against regulatory standards.

Establish Corporate Policies and Procedures

Look to industry guidance to help you create an initial draft of your compliance policy. You’ll likely need input from stakeholders across the organization, including IT, HR, legal, financial, and risk management leaders. If you don’t already have a compliance officer in place, you’ll need to appoint (or hire) one.

Communicate the Plan and Provide Training

Once your organization has a final compliance policy, it must be communicated to all staff and board officers. Set aside time for dedicated training on the policy, how to use a compliance checklist, and how to conduct an internal audit. Make sure all staff is familiar with any regulatory changes or new rules for recordkeeping and reporting.

Account for Routine Maintenance

Schedule regular reviews of your organization’s compliance policy to ensure it reflects changes in your industry or business operations. Budget the resources to help your compliance team stay abreast of changes in the industry and new regulations.

Conduct Periodic Compliance Audits

Routine internal audits can help identify potential issues before they snowball. Plus, periodic audits ensure your company is better prepared to respond to inquiries from government or regulatory bodies. If violations or vulnerabilities are discovered through an internal audit, take remediation steps immediately and review existing policies to see if there’s a way to prevent similar problems in the future.

Compliance Management Solutions

In addition to a set of internal procedures, a compliance management solution should include:

Auditing tools
Ongoing compliance training and education for staff
Board and management oversight

Additionally, workflow tools and apps can help organize compliance processes and automate certain tasks, like data analysis.

Compliance Management Systems

Today, many organizations rely on digital tools to streamline their compliance efforts. A well-designed compliance management system (CMS) can:

Improve data quality and business analytics
Ensure consistency across multiple business locations or branches
Make tracking, traceability, and reporting easier
Automate routine tasks so employees can focus on other business priorities
Minimize an organization’s overall risk exposure

Compliance Management Software

Compliance management software offers a central platform for communicating, overseeing, and documenting compliance activities across an enterprise. We’re committed to improving compliance management through supply chain transparency. With our tailored industry solutions, you can track your supply chain in real-time, no matter where your business is located. rfxcel serves businesses in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and consumer goods industries around the world. To learn more about our compliance software solutions or schedule a demo, contact us today.

FSMA 204 and Food Safety: Examining Compliance Requirements

Posted on March 23, 2023December 7, 2023 by rfxadmin

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is a sweeping set of regulations designed to revolutionize how we approach food safety in the United States. The Final Rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods — also known as the “Food Traceability Final Rule” or “Final Rule”) implements FSMA Section 204. FSMA 204 establishes additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for companies that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods included on the Food Traceability List (FTL).

For the food industry, understanding and complying with FSMA 204 is not just a legal requirement: it’s a commitment to public health and safety. It also creates many value-add opportunities through leveraging supply chain traceability.

Let’s dive into the FSMA 204 rule and what it means for your business.

Understanding FSMA 204

FSMA’s overarching goal is to prevent foodborne illnesses; it has seven rules to govern food production and distribution. Section 204 focuses on enhancing the traceability of FTL food, ensuring that businesses can quickly identify and address potential safety issues. The rule emphasizes the need for detailed recordkeeping. It’s like a meticulous logbook of your food product’s journey from farm to table.

Specifically, FSMA 204 requires supply chain actors to maintain records of critical tracking events (CTEs) and associated key data elements (KDEs). Entities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the FTL (e.g., harvesters, packers, processors, and distributors) must maintain and share these electronic records. So it’s not a stretch to say that the Food Traceability Final Rule will affect almost everyone in the U.S. food supply chain.

Compliance Requirements

If you’re wondering whether FSMA 204 applies to you, consider the scope of your business. The rule primarily targets businesses that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods listed on the Food Traceability List (FTL). Some items on the FTL include:

- Nut butters
- Deli salads
- Leafy greens
- Melons
- Shell eggs
- Tropical tree fruits
- Crustaceans
- Cucumbers
- Finfish
- Other fresh produce

To comply, you need to register with the FDA, providing detailed information about your business and the specific food products you handle. While there are exemptions, most members of the food supply chain will have to comply with FSMA 204, which also requires using traceability lot codes, developing a traceability plan, and sharing records with the FDA when requested.

Compliance Measures

Compliance with FSMA Section 204 might sound daunting, but it’s achievable with the right approach. Start by thoroughly understanding the Final Rule and its requirements. Develop a system for meticulous traceability recordkeeping. Training your staff on food safety practices is also crucial.

The goal is to make food safety part of your company’s DNA; you can’t treat the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as an afterthought or a box you have to check.

Navigating the Countdown to Compliance

Let’s take a closer look at the FSMA 204 timeline. Traditionally, the FDA has rolled out major regulations using a phased approach. For FSMA 204, however, the Agency has set a single firm compliance date: January 20, 2026.

Although that’s a little more than two years away, the time to start preparing is now. Don’t wait. Start your compliance process early, and use the time to refine and perfect your systems. That way, if you encounter any unexpected hurdles, you’ll have time to sort them out.

The Importance of Traceability

Traceability is at the heart of FSMA 204. By maintaining and sharing CTEs, KDEs, and detailed records of each food item’s journey, businesses can know where every product came from, where it is right now, where it’s going next, and its final destination. With this rich traceability data, they can swiftly address safety concerns, recall affected products, and provide critical information during investigations. Improving traceability can also mitigate brand damage due to recalls and help maintain consumer trust.

Common Challenges and Solutions

As you work to implement FSMA 204 into your business model, you could encounter one of these challenges:

- Data challenges: Existing data-sharing strategies need to be supplemented with traceability data.
- Trading partners challenges: If your partners don’t send required traceability data, it will affect your ability to maintain and send CTEs and KDEs across your supply chain.
- Process challenges: Your system must be able to send and receive traceability data quickly and accurately. It must also be able to spot (and fix) errors and communicate effectively with your partners.
- Technology challenges: Legacy supply chain systems may not be equipped to capture and organize traceability data.

Overcoming these hurdles requires a holistic approach. You must reevaluate your processes to ensure they promote compliance and, critically, collaborate with your partners to ensure you’ll be able to share all the required FSMA 204 data. Most important, you should determine if you need to replace or augment legacy tech with new solutions designed to modernize and simplify traceability.

Benefits of FSMA 204 Compliance

FSMA 204 compliance provides many, many benefits to your business, your trading partners, and the public. When you comply with FSMA 204, you help maximize traceability, food safety, and supply chain visibility. You also avoid penalties for non-compliance.

Implementing traceability technologies will also make your supply chain more efficient. You’ll gather robust item-level data insights about the flow of goods, which will help you to identify bottlenecks and “blind spots,” reduce spoilage, and even fight diversion, theft, and counterfeits. The more you know about your supply chain, the easier it will be to optimize it.

Complying with FSMA 204 requirements is also an opportunity to leverage rich traceability data to enhance your brand reputation, engage with consumers and build trust, and establish yourself as a leader in food safety. These benefits translate into customer loyalty and business growth.

Final Thoughts About FSMA 204 Compliance

The deadline to comply with FSMA traceability requirements is January 20, 2026. (That’s a Tuesday, if you’re wondering.) The FDA is giving the food industry the extra time because it wants all regulated businesses to come into compliance by the same date — and because it acknowledges that trading partners have to get their systems in place.

This is where Antares Vision Group can help. We offer a full-stack solution for the food industry. A “soup to nuts” solution, if you will. We can answer your questions, show you in concrete detail how we create end-to-end traceability in supply chains, and discuss how to use traceability to safeguard your brand and protect your bottom line. Contact us today to talk with us and schedule a demo.

And read this if you’re interested in learning about how rfxcel technology helped a major berry producer control the safety and quality of more than 1.5 billion products.

For a Leading Berry Producer, Antares Vision Group Digitalizes Billions of Products for Tight Supply Chain Oversight and Direct Consumer Connections

Posted on January 20, 2023January 20, 2023 by rfxadmin

The Group’s Supply Chain Transparency solution serializes packages in the field, enabling the use of unit-level data to help ensure customers are satisfied with product quality.

Travagliato (Brescia), January 17, 2023 – Antares Vision Group (EXM, AV:IM), an Italian multinational and a leading provider of track and trace and quality control systems that ensures the transparency of products and supply chains through integrated data management, has successfully piloted a Supply Chain Transparency solution for a prominent berry company. The project entails the digitalization of over 1.5 billion products, empowering the berry producer to protect, support, and communicate with its customers.

Powered by technology from rfxcel, which is part of Antares Vision Group, the Supply Chain Transparency solution package enables data concerning harvested berries to be collected and integrated into a platform that fully controls product safety and quality.

Using Antares Vision Group’s advanced serialization and mobile traceability technologies, the producer scans each individual clamshell to associate berry type, farm, and growing conditions, giving each package a unique digital identity with detailed product information. Consumers can scan an on-package QR Code to take a survey, giving the producer valuable insight into its customers’ impressions of specific berries grown at specific locations. This allows the company to focus on the types of berries consumers like best, and to ensure product quality is maintained at high standards from field to end user.

Glenn Abood, CEO of rfxcel, said the project showcases the technology’s impact and scalability. “We’re really expanding boundaries with this project,” he said. “Our coordination with the berry producer has been greatly rewarding; together, we’ve designed a system that reliably manages billions of products in the first and last mile of the supply chain. It performs these tasks day in and day out, with sub-second scanning times and exacting accuracy.”

Abood added that Antares Vision Group and the producer had discussed other applications for the wide-scale serialization of products, such as using digitalized unit-level data for consumer engagement activities and risk-mitigation strategies.

Abood continued: “Our serialization technologies are opening up entirely new avenues for brand value and benefits, connecting safety, quality, efficiency, and trust. The brand owners have actionable and granular information about consumer preferences, opening new dialogue channels and highly targeted customer interactions. Recall management is another benefit: It’s not necessary to recall every package, only a single clamshell. These advantages are available only with serialized products, which unlock opportunities with the power of unit-level data.”

For further information

Herb Wong, Senior Vice President, Product and Strategy: +1 925 791 3235 / hwong@rfxcel.com

Alessandro Baj Badino, Head of Investor Relations: +39 030 72 83 500 / investors@antaresvision.com

Davide Antonioli, Investor Relator: +39 030 7283500 / investors@antaresvision.com

Federica Menichino, Axelcomm (Press Contact): +39 3496976982 / federica.menichino@axel-comm.it

ABOUT ANTARES VISION GROUP

Antares Vision Group is an outstanding technology partner in digitalization and innovation for companies and institutions, guaranteeing the safety of products and people, business competitiveness, and environmental protection. The Group provides a unique and comprehensive ecosystem of technologies to guarantee product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end product traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer) through integrated data management, applying artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. Antares Vision Group is active in life science (pharmaceutical, biomedical devices and hospitals) and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), including food, beverage, cosmetics, and glass and metal containers. As a world leader in track and trace solutions for pharmaceutical products, the Group provides major global manufacturers (over 50% of the top 20 multinationals) and numerous government authorities with solutions, monitoring their supply chains and validating product authenticity. Listed since April 2019 on the Italian Stock Exchange in the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) segment and from 14 May 2021 in the STAR segment of the Mercato Telematico Azionario (MTA), Antares Vision Group recorded a turnover of €179 million in 2021, operates in 60 countries, employs more than 1,000 people, and has a consolidated network of over 40 international partners. To learn more, please visit www.antaresvision.com and www.antaresvisiongroup.com.

Why FDA Food Traceability Regulations Are a Business Opportunity

Posted on August 4, 2022August 4, 2023 by rfxadmin

It’s going to be a busy couple of years for the food industry as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formalizes key parts of its plan to modernize and further secure the U.S. food supply chain. The next milestone for FDA food traceability regulations is just four months away, so let’s take a look at the requirements — and why food companies should embrace them as an opportunity to improve their businesses.

But first, if you’re intrigued by the idea that opportunities are “hiding” in the FDA food traceability regulations, join us for our “Safety, Regulatory Compliance & Beyond: Leveraging Traceability to Optimize the Food & Beverage Supply Chain” webinar on Wednesday, August 10, at 1 p.m. EST. Our experts will break down the “whys” and “hows” of traceability, discuss the real-world applications and value-adds, and take your questions.

Recap of FDA food traceability regulations & upcoming deadlines

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s on the table and upcoming deadlines.

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

- - Signed into law on Jan. 4, 2011
  - Aims to ensure the food supply is safe by shifting the focus to preventing contamination rather than responding to it
  - Applies to human food as well as to food for animals, including pets

Proposed Rule (FSMA 204)

- - Establishes additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for people who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the Food Traceability List
  - Food Traceability List contains foods with additional traceability recordkeeping requirements (see table below)
  - Stakeholders to establish and maintain records with key data elements (KDEs) associated with different critical tracking events (CTEs)

Key dates

- - Nov. 7, 2022: FDA to finalize and submit the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Proposed Rule to the Federal Register
  - January 2023: Proposed Rule goes into effect
  - Jan. 6, 2025: Deadline for full compliance

The FDA has also launched the New Era of Smarter Food Safety and an accompanying New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint, which envision a modern approach to ensuring food safety through digital, tech-enabled traceability. Get more details in our blog here.

FDA food traceability regulations: What to know now and how to seize opportunities

This is really just a preview of our August 10 webinar about leveraging traceability. We’ll touch on a few key points below; sign up for the webinar to take a deep dive.

Just the facts

The FSMA 204 deadlines are set. You’ll have to be fully compliant in about two years, so the time to prepare is now.

The Food Traceability List is a living document. More and more food items are sure to be added over time.

The FDA is committed to modernizing and securing the U.S. food supply chain. Expect the Agency to continue promoting (and regulating) traceability in a digital supply chain. This includes improving recall management.

Where’s the opportunity?

End-to-end traceability makes everything better. With the right solution, you’ll not only be compliant — you’ll make your supply chain faster, leaner, and more cost-effective.

“1-up, 1-down” is useful, but antiquated. Today, 1-up, 1-down traceability is merely a facet of end-to-end traceability (and visibility and transparency) in a digital supply chain. The right solutions transform your supply chain into an ecosystem that optimizes operations and creates opportunity and value beyond the point of sale.

Serialization is the building block of compliance — and added value. Serialization turns every product into a “digital asset” that can be traced in real time from virtually any location, yielding practical benefits to your operations. But these digital assets can accomplish much, much more, including brand protection and consumer engagement.

Traceability enables precise, targeted recall management — which means better outcomes for your brand. We’ve all heard the statistic that the average food recall costs $10 million. With traceability, you can locate specific items quickly, identify where they came from (e.g., grower, warehouse), take clear, decisive action to remove only those items from circulation, and protect consumers and your reputation.

Traceability in a digital supply chain means less clutter — literally. Do you have nightmares about back rooms full of boxes stuffed with paperwork? Traceability turns your nightmare into an operational dream. Get rid of all the paper and gain the power to quickly dial up any document, any time, from any location, including from mobile devices.

Traceability and added value

Traceability is the key to keeping consumers happy and inspired. Consumers are thinking deeply about the things they buy — where they come from and what goes into making them. They also expect to interact with the brands they trust. We wrote way back in October 2020 that supply chain traceability was building a new kind of consumer kingdom; it was true then, it’s true today, and it will be true tomorrow.

The era of digital assets and smart products is here. Products are no longer just products. With serialization and traceability, products are gateways to experiences. They’re beacons to broadcast information. They are conduits for hyper-targeted and hyper-personalized consumer engagement.

Final thoughts

FDA food traceability regulations are center stage in FSMA, the Food Traceability Proposed Rule (FSMA 204), the Food Traceability List, and the New Era of Smarter Food Safety. The deadlines are coming and you should be preparing.

But now you know that savvy companies will see traceability as more than a compliance mandate from the government — they’ll see it as a technology that creates a universe of opportunities for their businesses and brands.

Companies that are thinking only about the mechanics of complying with FDA food traceability regulations will miss these opportunities to be proactive about ensuring food safety and quality, reducing risks, protecting and building their brands, and leveraging every single product to connect with individual consumers in exciting, meaningful ways.

We don’t want you to miss these opportunities. To get started, sign up for our food traceability webinar to see how traceability works and how it delivers value.

Next, contact us to schedule a short demo of our food and beverage solutions, including our award-winning Traceability System and Mobile Traceability App. In about 15 minutes, our supply chain experts will show you how we create end-to-end traceability in a fully interoperable digital supply chain that’s visible anytime, anywhere.

Last, take a look at our other food traceability materials, some FDA links, and our shortened version of the Food Traceability List.

Our FSMA & Food Traceability Resources

Other FDA Resources

Food Traceability List

Antares Vision Group Selected to Speak on Supply Chain Traceability and Smart Hospital Systems at GS1 Connect 2022

Posted on June 1, 2022June 1, 2022 by rfxadmin

AV Group members will present “Supply Chain Traceability: Can Your Business Survive Without It” and “Smarter and Safer Hospitals: When Innovative Technologies Meet Patient Safety”

Travagliato (Brescia), June 1, 2022 – Antares Vision Group (AV Group), a technological partner of excellence in digitalization and integrated data management, the global leader in track and trace hardware and software solutions, and one of the main players in inspection systems for quality control and integrated data management, has been chosen to provide thought leadership presentations at the GS1 Connect Conference, June7-9 in San Diego.

In “Supply Chain Traceability: Can Your Business Survive Without It?” Herb Wong, vice president of strategy and innovation at rfxcel, which is part of AV Group, will discuss why traceability is foundational to business success in a rapidly evolving landscape of digitalization, ever-changing consumer expectations and power dynamics, tougher regulations, and supply chain uncertainty. The session will be held Thursday, June 9, at 1:45 p.m.

In on-demand session 509, “Smarter and Safer Hospitals: When Innovative Technologies Meet Patient Safety,” Antares Vision Digital Healthcare Department director Adriano Fusco, and Dr. Alberto Sanna, director of the Research Center for Advanced Technologies for Health and Well-Being of the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, will discuss how traceability and GS1 standards enabled end-to-end visibility of medications – from their arrival at the hospital to dispensing – through the use of optimized resources that focus on patient safety.

AV Group Chairman and Co-CEO Emidio Zorzella said he was excited that GS1 Connect attendees would have the opportunity to hear Mr. Wong, Mr. Fusco, and Dr. Sanna talk about the Group’s technology. “The ultimate goals of traceability and GS1 standards are to protect people and optimize business processes,” he said. “These are also AV Group’s goals. I think people will have a strong reaction when they see how our technology is improving people’s lives, making businesses more efficient and effective and, we hope, making the world a better place.”

GS1 Connect is an annual event hosted by GS1 US. It brings together trading partners to network and learn about the value of using standards-based business processes and best practices for optimum efficiencies in managing the supply and demand sides of their value chains. The theme of this year’s conference is “Adapt,” focusing on how businesses have used GS1 Standards to overcome challenges to thrive in uncertain times. It will feature more than 40 live sessions, more than 50 exhibitors, trading partner roundtables, and other events centered on user stories and leadership insights for supply chain optimization.

For more information, contact AV Group Public Relations Specialist Davide Antonioli at davide.antonioli@antaresvision.com or +39 339-812-4446.

ABOUT ANTARES VISION GROUP

Antares Vision Group is an outstanding technology partner in digitalization and innovation for enterprises and institutions, guaranteeing the safety of products and people, business competitiveness, and environmental protection.

AV Group provides a unique and comprehensive ecosystem of technologies — including software and hardware — to guarantee product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer), through integrated data management, applying artificial intelligence and blockchain too.

AV Group is active in the life sciences (pharmaceuticals, biomedical devices, and hospitals), beverage, food, and cosmetics industries, and is expanding into other sectors. The world leader in track and trace systems for pharmaceutical products, it provides major global manufacturers, including more than 50 percent of the Top 20 multinationals, and numerous government authorities with solutions to monitor their supply chains and validate product authenticity.

Listed since April 2019 on the Italian Stock Exchange in the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) segment and from May 2021 in the STAR segment of the Mercato Telematico Azionario (MTA) (electronic equity market), AV Group operates in 60 countries, employs approximately 1,000 people, and has a consolidated network of more than 40 international partners. antaresvisiongroup.com

rfxcel, part of AV Group, has deep expertise in providing leading-edge software solutions to help companies build and manage digital supply chains, lower costs, protect products and brand reputations, and engage consumers. rfxcel.com