food and beverage Archives - rfxcel.com
EnglishFrenchGermanItalianPortugueseRussianSpanish
Rfxcel Logo

Tag: food and beverage

The U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and Supply Chain Ethics

Posted on by rfxadmin

Signed into law on Dec. 23, 2021, the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) prohibits the importation of certain goods into the United States and aims to ensure that businesses are not complicit in human rights abuses. It’s one of many regulations around the world that aim to make supply chains more ethical, transparent, and sustainable.

Let’s see what the act says and examine why supply chain transparency is the key to making such legislation viable and successful. For another example of recent laws, see our blog post about Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.

What is the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act?

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, or UFLPA, is a response to concerns over forced labor and human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

It’s worth quoting the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol website at length for a thorough description. It says the act:

“establishes a rebuttable presumption that the importation of any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, or produced by certain entities, is prohibited by Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and that such goods, wares, articles, and merchandise are not entitled to entry to the United States.

“The presumption applies unless the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determines that the importer of record has complied with specified conditions and, by clear and convincing evidence, that the goods, wares, articles, or merchandise were not produced using forced labor.”

Furthermore, the act required the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to develop a strategy for supporting the legislation. This strategy was published on June, 1, 2021, and includes the UFLPA Entity List, which names “entities in Xinjiang that mine, produce, or manufacture wholly or in part any goods, wares, articles and merchandise with forced labor.”

Key provisions

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act has provisions to combat forced labor and enhance supply chain transparency, including:

      • Import restrictions: As we noted above, the act bans the importation of goods produced wholly or in part in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, unless importers can provide clear and convincing evidence that the goods were not produced with forced labor.
      • Enhanced due diligence: The act places the responsibility on companies to exercise due diligence and conduct comprehensive risk assessments of their supply chains to identify any forced labor risks or links to Xinjiang.
      • Publicly available information: Companies must disclose information on their efforts to ensure their supply chains are free from forced labor, including the specific measures they have implemented and the results of their due diligence assessments.
      • Coordination with government agencies: The act requires collaboration between government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, and Department of State, to ensure effective enforcement and implementation of the legislation.

Implications and challenges for businesses

The act has very real implications for businesses operating in the United States. They must have the means to see into their partners’ operations, as well as into the often opaque landscape of secondary and tertiary suppliers. Other challenges include:

      • Not being able to produce audits that meet Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force credibility requirements
      • Traceability challenges in the supply chain (e.g., aggregated and commingled products with difficult-to-prove provenance)
      • Regulations in other countries that make compliance more difficult/complicated
      • Challenges related to sourcing (i.e., not being able to find a crucial raw material or item outside of China)

The government provides resources for businesses concerning the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. For example, see the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s UFLPA Operational Guidance for Importers and its FAQs about the act.

Final thoughts

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is part of broader regulatory efforts to eliminate forced labor and human rights abuses in global supply chains. Businesses must be prepared (and willing) to audit and assess their operations, engage with their suppliers (and their suppliers’ suppliers), and establish mechanisms to trace the origin of goods to ensure compliance.

And they should be proactive about it. A first step is contacting us to talk about supply chain transparency. Our transparency solutions enable companies to track and trace their supply chains in real time from virtually anywhere in the world. Our technology makes every product a “digital asset” with a certified, provable, and sharable provenance. We can show you how it works with a short demo.

If you’re interested in learning more about supply chain transparency, check out the articles below. “Transparency” means just about the same thing in every supply chain, so consider these as case studies about how it works, why it’s important, and the business benefits it can bring.

 

 

FSMA 204 Data Carrier Requirements: FDA Guidance & GS1 Standards

Posted on by rfxadmin

We’ve recently talked about Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) traceability requirements and GS1 standards and the FSMA traceability lot code. Today, we’re covering FSMA 204 data carrier requirements: FDA guidance and — once again — GS1 standards, including incorporating the mandated traceability lot code into compliant barcodes.

Like our previous post, we’re basing much of this discussion on GS1’s March 1, 2023, industry guidance document, “Application of GS1 System of Standards to Support FSMA 204.” For an in-depth description of GS1 data carriers, check out our “Understanding GS1 Barcodes in the Global Supply Chain” article.

Data carriers: a quick definition for context

A building block for traceability in any supply chain, data carriers enable product information to be quickly and accurately captured, stored, shared, and leveraged for business needs. Companies can mark their entire product hierarchy — from individual items and inner packs to cases/boxes and pallets — with data carriers, which include barcodes (e.g., linear, 2D DataMatrix codes, and QR codes).

Do GS1 barcodes meet FSMA 204 data carrier requirements?

The short answer is “yes.”

However, FSMA does not mandate the use data carriers to provide product information and the FDA does not say what data must be present to meet the FSMA traceability requirements. This is stated clearly in Federal Register Response 524, in which the FDA says that “firms may use product labels to provide the information required [our emphasis] to their supply chain partners if that suits their business practices.”

In the context of this question, suggestions for “product labels” included twist ties, bags, food-grade stickers, and traditional-type labels on produce or customer order forms. For GS1, product labels mean data carriers, primarily barcodes.

What does GS1 say about FSMA 204 data carriers?

In its guidance document, GS1 says this about the FSMA 204 data carrier requirements (or lack thereof):

“Data carriers are not required to meet the requirements of the Final Rule. For this reason, there is no clear prescription of what data must be present in a data carrier to fulfill traceability for the Final Rule. Instead, companies must evaluate what data will enable rapid access to the necessary information in the event the FDA requests their records.”

GS1 explains three types of data carriers that might have applications for the FSMA 204:

      1. GS1 Element String (1D and 2D), which can contain the primary identifier (e.g., Global Trade Item Number, or GTIN) and attribute data (e.g., lot/batch number, expiration date, sell-by date, net weight)
      2. GS1 Digital Link URI (2D), a web-compatible format that can contain the primary identifier and attribute data
      3. Electronic Product Code Uniform Resource Identifier (EPC URI), which can contain the primary identifier with a serial number plus attribute data for use in RFID tags, primarily UHF passive tags (also called RAIN RFID).

Using GS1 barcodes as a FSMA 204 data carrier

Below are some examples of how GS1 barcodes might look when used as FSMA 204 data carriers. (We’re not going to get into RAIN RFID today.)

Specifically, we want to illustrate how these barcodes could meet the FSMA traceability lot code requirement, which GS1 says a GTIN + batch/lot numbers would satisfy. (Read our article here for more about the traceability lot code.) In the illustrative images below, we’ve highlighted the GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) for GTIN (01), lot/batch number (10), and expiration date (17). AIs tell systems what information is being interacted with and enable them to process that information accordingly.

GS1-128. GS1-128 is a 1D barcode that can be up to 6.5 inches long and have up to 48 data characters. In terms of FSMA 204 data carriers, GS1 includes an “important” note that “1D barcodes cannot be removed until all stakeholders expected to scan the barcode are fully capable of interacting with 2D barcodes. This means that both a 1D and 2D barcode would be required during any transition period.”

GS1 DataMatrix. GS1 DataMatrix codes are omnidirectional and support attributes and all GS1 identification keys. They can hold 3,116 numeric or 2,335 alphanumeric characters.

GS1 DataMatrix + GS1 Digital Link URI. The GS1 Digital Link URI essentially turns data carriers into web links. GS1 says that “scanning capabilities are not widely available for GS1 Digital Link URI in general distribution,” so companies would  have to update their systems in order to process these barcodes and the data they contain.

GS1 QR Code + GS1 Digital Link URI. Like GS1 DataMatrix codes, GS1 QR codes are omnidirectional and support attributes and all GS1 ID keys; however, they can hold 7,089 numbers or 4,296 alphanumeric characters. Some mobile device cameras cannot process DataMatrix codes, so GS1 says QR Codes are “the current preference for engagement through mobile devices.”

GS1 Barcodes FSMA 204 data carrier

Final thoughts

Let’s repeat what we said in our post about GS1 and FSMA traceability requirements:

One takeaway from today’s article is that the FDA might be telling food companies what the FSMA traceability requirements are, but it’s not telling them how to comply. This is why it’s important to understand GS1’s “take” on the situation and the rationale behind its suggestions.

Food companies are already using GS1 barcodes; adapting them as FSMA 204 data carriers or “product labels” makes good sense. GTINs, batch/lot numbers, Serialized Shipping Container Code (SSCC) data, and other information can be encoded into GS1-128, GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 QR code barcode configurations, as well as Electronic Product Code-enabled RAIN RFID tags and labels.

Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about using a barcode as a FSMA 204 data carrier, how to integrate data capture technology into you FSMA 204 compliance strategy, and everything else you need to have in place by the January 2026 deadline. A short talk with one of our supply chain experts will get you going in the right direction or help you course-correct if you feel like you’ve been treading water with your FSMA initiatives.

And if you’re interested in learning how we’ve put more than 1.5 billion of barcodes on as many products to help a major berry producer control product safety and quality, click here.

Read more about FSMA:

FSMA Traceability Requirements: FDA Guidance & GS1 Standards

Posted on by rfxadmin

People have been asking us about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), so we’ve recently written about the Final Rule, the Food Traceability List, and the FSMA traceability lot code. Now we’re going to cover what GS1 is saying about the FSMA traceability requirements.

It’s a timely — and important — topic for the food industry. About two weeks ago, GS1 published an industry guidance document about applying its standards to support FSMA 204. Among other things, the 62-page paper “defines the recommendations for product and location identification, structured product descriptions, and recording common industry defined events to support the additional traceability records required in the Final Rule.”

Today, we’re looking at three things:

      1. What the FDA says about complying with FSMA traceability requirements
      2. GS1 standards for identification
      3. GS1 standards and the FSMA traceability lot code

Caveats and context

GS1 says its guidance document, which was developed by its US FSMA 204 Workgroup, “does not provide any guidance or advice regarding regulatory compliance.”

It also states that the “guideline reflects current industry understanding of the Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods. Those requirements, and the statutes and regulations affecting them, are subject to change and may evolve in a manner this guideline cannot anticipate.”

Keep these statements in mind as you’re reading. Also know that the purpose of this blog post is to summarize what GS1 is saying about its standards and FSMA traceability requirements, not to advise on or advocate for the use of GS1 standards for FSMA compliance.

Of course, if you do want to get into specifics of ensuring you’re FSMA-compliant, contact us today and start that conversation with one of our supply chain experts.

Last, we’re going to be getting into technical aspects of GS1 standards, including Application Identifiers, identification keys, and barcodes. We’ll explain everything, but read our “Understanding GS1 Barcodes in the Global Supply Chain“ article for more detailed information.

What does the FDA say about complying with FSMA traceability requirements ?

The answer is pretty simple: The FDA does not provide concrete guidance about how to meet FSMA traceability requirements; instead, it speaks in general terms. For example:

      • In Federal Register Final Rule Response 507 to a question about “requiring the use of globally unique product identifiers” — including GS1 identifiers — the Agency says, “we are not making this a requirement under the final rule.”
      • In Federal Register Final Rule Response 516 to a question about GS1 Serial Shipping Container Codes (SSCCs), the Agency says, “we encourage the use of any tools that will improve a firm’s procedures for traceability and support the maintenance and sharing of the required traceability records under the final rule.”
      • Though it does mention the GS1 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) in a response about the traceability lot code, it says “firms are not required to use GTIN or any other particular coding system or technology.”

In this regulatory context, let’s see what GS1 says about using its standards for the FSMA traceability requirements.

GS1 standards for identification

GS1 says food companies can use GTINs, SSCCs, and Global Location Numbers (GLNs) for the FSMA traceability requirements.

      • GTINs identify individual products. They can be linked to key data elements (KDEs) in a database; food companies wouldn’t need to maintain required information in a separate location. (See our simple explanation of KDEs here.)
      • SSCCs identify single logistics units (e.g., pallets). They can be paired with the mandated FSMA traceability lot codes to improve traceability.
      • GLNs identify the “who” and “where” of a product/company. They would provide required company and location identification.

GS1 standards and the FSMA traceability lot code

Though the FDA does not commit to a standard for the traceability lot code, it does indicate some options. For example:

      • In Final Rule Response 324, the Agency says there are “industry-supported traceability initiatives [to use] a combination of a globally unique product identifier, firm-assigned internal lot code, and standard date code [that] could be used as a traceability lot code.”
      • In Response 361, it says “a traceability lot code may include a product identifier such as a GTIN and/or an internal lot code (provided the definition of ‘traceability lot code’ in § 1.1310 is met).”

GS1 says a GTIN plus batch/lot numbers would meet the FSMA traceability lot code requirements. Here’s a step-by-step explanation of why it would work:

      • GS1 uses Application Identifiers (AI) to indicate identification keys, attribute information, and secondary information.
      • There are 12 identification keys, including GTINs, SSCCs, and GLNs. Every identification key also has an AI. (Read our article about GS1 barcodes for a more thorough explanation of identification keys.)
      • The GTIN AI is 01 and “uniquely identifies [a] trade item.” It can be 8, 12, 13, or 14 digits long.
      • The batch/lot number is AI 10 and “identifies a group of the same product, all of which were manufactured under identical conditions to support traceability and other use cases.” It can be up to 20 characters (letters, numerals, and a defined subset of special characters).
      • The batch/lot number must be expressed in conjunction with a GTIN (AI 01) because it is a product attribute.

Final thoughts

One takeaway from today’s article is that the FDA might be telling food companies what the FSMA traceability requirements are, but it’s not telling them how to comply. This is why it’s important to understand GS1’s “take” on the situation and the rationale behind its suggestions.

It also reinforces a point we’ve been making for quite some time: Companies that see regulations as a chance to lead in their industry and create business value will win the day, and companies that think only about the mechanics of compliance will likely miss these opportunities.

So, like we said above, if you want to talk turkey about ensuring you’re FSMA-compliant, contact us today to start the conversation. In about 15 minutes, one of our supply chain experts can show you Antares Vision Group’s solutions for the food industry and how rfxcel technology drives them.

Also check back next week. We’ll continue this discussion with a piece about data carriers — 1D and 2D barcodes, QR Codes, RFID tags — and what the FDA and GS1 is saying about their role in FSMA traceability requirements. Last but not least, click here to learn how we barcoded more than 1.5 billion products help a major berry producer control product safety and quality.

Read more about FSMA:

 

What is the FSMA Traceability Lot Code and Who Must Comply?

Posted on by rfxadmin

If you read our blog (and we know you do), you’re up to speed on the fundamentals of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Section 204, including the Food Traceability List (FTL) and the food traceability “Final Rule.” Today, we’re looking at an important part of the regulations — the FSMA traceability lot code — and who must comply.

What is the FSMA traceability lot code?

The FDA defines the FSMA traceability lot code as “a descriptor, often alphanumeric, used to uniquely identify a traceability lot within the records of the firm that assigned the traceability lot code.”

Certain types of companies must assign, record, and share with their trading partners the traceability lot codes for foods on the FTL. These companies must also link the codes to information that identifies FTL foods as they move through the supply chain. (More on this below.)

A traceability lot code must be assigned when any of the following occur:

      • Initial packing of a raw agricultural commodity (RAC*), other than a food obtained from a fishing vessel
      • Performing the first land-based receiving of a food obtained from a fishing vessel
      • Transformation of a food

Section 201(r) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines a RAC as “any food in its raw or natural state, including all fruits that are washed, colored, or otherwise treated in their unpeeled natural form prior to marketing.”

The FSMA traceability lot code in action: CTEs and KDEs

To fully understand the FSMA traceability lot code, we have to talk about the cornerstones of FSMA traceability: critical tracking events (CTEs) and key data elements (KDEs), which are required for foods on the FTL.

In broad terms:

      • CTEs include events that happen during growing and processing, such as harvesting, cooling, initial packing, and distribution.
      • KDEs provide the granular details for food traceability, including time, location, unit measurements, and information about the businesses handling the food.
      • Different companies are responsible for different types of KDEs (e.g., for receiving, shipping, transformation).

A FSMA traceability lot code is typically assigned during the “initial packing” CTE, which the law describes as “packing a RAC, other than a food obtained from a fishing vessel, for the first time.” This means that a code is not assigned at previous supply chain nodes, such on a farm, during harvest, or at a cooling facility.

Once a traceability lot code has been assigned, the records required at each CTE must include that code. Furthermore, companies shouldn’t change the traceability lot code they receive from their partners (e.g., a shipper shouldn’t change the code it receives from an initial packager).

Do you have to comply? Are you exempt?

The Final Rule does have exceptions to the requirements we’ve discussed above.

Overall, the law stipulates that “persons who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the FTL [must] maintain records containing KDEs associated with CTEs” and “provide information to the FDA within 24 hours or within some reasonable time to which the FDA has agreed.”

Therefore, speaking generally, initial packagers, shippers, and receivers have to assign, record, and/or share include a FSMA traceability lot code. Companies that transform FTL foods into other products must include the traceability lot code for each ingredient received and a new traceability lot code for the product you’ve created.

However, companies that receive an FTL food from a partner that is exempt from the regulations must assign a traceability lot code if one has not already been assigned — unless the receiving company is a retail food establishment or a restaurant.

Again, we’re speaking generally. The FDA has an online tool to determine if you’re exempt from the Final Rule.

Final thoughts

This is a lot to digest. Online tools are fine, but the better option is to contact us and nail down your FSMA traceability lot code obligations — and to make sure you’re ready to comply with every FSMA requirement.

As we wrote in our last FSMA update about two weeks ago, the deadline to comply is January 20, 2026. That seems like a long way off, but it’s really not when you factor in the complexity of the Final Rule, the FTL, and the other mandates.

Antares Vision Group can help. We’ll answer your questions. We’ll demonstrate how our traceability and compliance solutions meet your exact needs. And we’ll show you how technology from rfxcel brings added value for brand protection, risk mitigation, customer engagement. Drop us a line today and let’s get started.

Read more about FSMA:

 

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

Posted on 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 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

FDA Food Traceability List

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

Posted on 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

Russia Serialization Update: Chestny ZNAK Beer and Dietary Supplements Pilots Ending This Summer

Posted on by rfxadmin

We’re always keeping an eye on Russia’s National Track and Trace Digital System, known as Chestny ZNAK. Right now, there are two things to keep on your radar for 2022: the pilots for Chestny ZNAK beer and dietary supplements, both of which are scheduled to wrap up in August. Here’s a quick recap.

The Chestny ZNAK beer and dietary supplements pilots

Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade announced the Chestny ZNAK beer pilot in October 2020. It began on April 1, 2021, and was originally scheduled to end on February 28, 2022 — a little more than two weeks from the time we’re writing this. The pilot, or “experiment” as these test runs are called in Russia, also involves “beer-based beverages.”  It’s testing labeling for beer, beer drinks, and low-alcohol drinks that are not required to be labeled with federal special and excise stamps.

The pilot for dietary supplements began on May 1, 2021, and was originally scheduled to end on March 1, 2022. The Center for Research in Perspective Technologies (CRPT), which operates Chestny ZNAK, has not said much more than this. One thing to note, though, is that Chestny ZNAK has also referred to this product category as “biologically active food additives.”

At present, the Chestny ZNAK beer and dietary supplement pilots are slated to end on August 21, about five-and-a-half months from now. If you want to sell these products in the lucrative Russian market, you need to start thinking about compliance. If the CRPT follows its established protocol, there will be pilot reports and evaluations, then the regulations will go into full effect.

It’s worth noting here that two other pilots have ended, but the CRPT hasn’t issued further guidance and they are still shown as “experiments” on the Chestny ZNAK website:

    • Bicycles: A seven-month pilot ended on May 31, 2020.
    • Wheelchairs: A pilot for hand-powered wheelchairs ran from September 1, 2019, to December 1, 2020. Another pilot for wheelchairs with an electric engine or other mechanical means for locomotion ran from December 1, 2020, to June 1, 2021.

Chestny ZNAK beer and dietary supplements requirements

We got into the details of the Chestny ZNAK beer and dietary supplements pilots when they were announced in early 2021. Take a look at those articles for in-depth information, including the specific products that are being tested and that will, we assume, be regulated alongside all the other industries: bicycles, bottled drinking water, dairy, footwear, fur, light industry, medications, perfumes, photo cameras and flash bulbs, tires, tobacco, and wheelchairs.

Serialization, aggregation, unit- and batch-level traceability, crypto codes, and electronic reporting and records management are the hallmarks of Chestny ZNAK. Beer and dietary supplements, like products in other categories, must be labeled with a 2D DataMatrix code encoded with the following:

    • A 14-digit Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
    • A 13-digit serial number generated by the CRPT or the economic agent
    • A 4-digit verification key from the CRPT
    • A 44-digit verification code (i.e., crypto code) from the CRPT

Final thoughts

The Chestny ZNAK beer and dietary supplements pilots are part of Russia’s ongoing effort to serialize its entire supply chain by 2024. And as our General Director of Operations in Russia Victoria Kozlova noted in World Pharma Today, the system was designed “to guarantee the authenticity and declared quality of goods being purchased by customers.”

rfxcel has been prepared for these regulations since 2018, and we’ve established ourselves as the leader in Chestny ZNAK compliance. For example:

So, if you’re looking to do business in Russia — or even if you’re already working with another provider — contact us today. Also download our Chestny ZNAK white paper and read some of our other articles about the regulations:

 

 

 

 

 

Wine Brand Protection and the Fight Against Counterfeits

Posted on by rfxadmin

Today we’re talking about wine brand protection. Why it’s important for the industry and how to use your supply chain to make it as strong as it can be. Specifically, we’re focusing on counterfeits, an evergreen problem for the industry.

Talking about brand protection is a fitting conclusion to our series of articles about wine and a great way to mark the last day of the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium. Speaking of which, stop by Booth 807 to meet us and our other Antares Vision Group team members, FT System and Applied Vision. We’d love to see you before everybody heads home.

Now on to wine brand protection and the fight against counterfeits.

Why is wine brand protection important?

In the wine industry, your brand is critical to success. Whether you’re a multi-generational operation or the new kid on the block trying to make your mark, it’s one of your most valuable assets.

Your brand tells the story of your wine, from the soil and the vines to the bottle to your customers’ tables. It connects you to your partners and consumers. It sets you apart from your competition. It’s your identity out there in the world.

Alas, wine — and spirts — are under a constant barrage of brand protection threats and challenges. The circumstances range from bad actors trying to rip you off to the ebb and flow of the market and the trends that are defining it as we’ve made our way into the 2020s. Today, we’re focusing on the bad actors. Let us know if you’d like us to write more about factors or have anything to add to our discussion.

Counterfeits and fakes

Counterfeits and fakes are the undisputed champion of threats to wine brand protection. It’s an age-old problem, though industry observers rightly note that the pandemic has created more opportunities for fraud. The increase in online sales, including auctions, and less in-person due diligence because of travel restrictions are two examples.

How is wine counterfeited? Let us count the ways. There can be theft at production and storage sites. Theft and diversion also happen as wine is being delivered across the supply chain.

Counterfeiters also like to misrepresent a wine’s origin, vintage, variety, blend — really anything that distinguishes a brand and increases their chances of making a profit.

“Damaged wines” also manage to get into the marketplace. These might have been stored at the wrong temperature or have torn labels and bad corks. Adulterated or cheap wine is bottled in a prestige package.

In Part 1 of our wine traceability series, we mentioned the notorious Rudy Kurniawan. But the daily reality of counterfeit wine (and spirts) is much less dramatic. Consider these news items:

In 2011, hundreds of bottles of fake Jacob’s Creek wine were seized in the UK. More recently, a shopkeeper in England was fined more than $5,000 for having 142 bottles of fake Yellow Tail on his shelves. He said he bought the wine from a man who popped by his shop in an unmarked van; authorities say he could have profited in excess of $600 by selling the plonk. He didn’t get a receipt or an invoice, and the man in the van has not been found. Interestingly, analysis showed that the bogus Yellow Tail was less than 12 percent alcohol. Real Yellowtail is 13.5 percent. This is another example of how counterfeit wine is adulterated.

In 2020, 4,200 counterfeit bottles of Bolgheri Sassicaia, a prestigious (and very expensive) wine, were seized in operation “Bad Tuscan.” Revealing the international nature of counterfeiting, investigators said the fake wine originated in Sicily, the bottles came from Turkey, and the labels and wooden boxes came from Bulgaria. Furthermore, “The 2010 and 2015 vintages, celebrated by Italian and international critics, were the most prevalent among the fakes.”

As for the spirts industry, fake bourbon is hot right now and authorities nabbed 400+ liters of counterfeit vodka this month in Scotland.

To illustrate the problem more broadly, about 1.7 million liters of counterfeit alcohol was seized in Europe between December 2020 and June 2021. That haul was part of a joint INTERPOL-Europol operation called OPSON X, which netted almost 15,500 tons of illegal products with an estimated street value of nearly $60 million. Upwards of 68,000 checks were carried out by 72 participating countries, resulting in more than 1,000 criminal cases.

The upshot is that up to 20 percent of wine sold worldwide is fake and counterfeits cost the industry as much as $3 billion every year.

What can we do about it?

Counterfeiters and fraudsters exploit weaknesses. This is what gives them openings to assault your brand. The good news is that you can mitigate these weaknesses and gather real-time intelligence for effective brand protection strategies using your supply chain.

Your supply chain mirrors your brand. It’s the embodiment of your business. If it’s not healthy, your brand can’t be healthy. You need to be able to continuously scan it, diagnose it, and take immediate action should a threat arise.

Four supply chain solutions in particular are vital for wine brand protection: serialization, real-time monitoring, end-to-end traceability, and mobile traceability.

We talk about these in Part 2 of our brand protection series, “Brand Protection Strategies and Your Supply Chain.” Part 1 talks about top supply chain threats and your brand protection strategy. We encourage you to read these articles, as well as our consumer engagement series.

Final thoughts

Your success and reputation depend on how seriously you take brand protection. This means being able to authenticate every ingredient and every bottle. You have to monitor and prove storage conditions and provenance. You have to have deep, real-time insight into what you’re doing and where your products were, are, and will be. And you have to have the granular data to back up every claim and demonstrate to your customers that your wine is exactly what you say it is.

If you read our “Wine Consumer Engagement: Ten Things to Know for 2022” post from the other day, you saw that our mantra for wine consumer engagement is “A message in every bottle.” For wine brand protection, we like to say that you should tap into the “Brut” force of your supply chain. The short list of benefits includes:

    • Fortify with supply chain data and protect with unique digital IDs
    • Create an indelible provenance and create your product story
    • Monitor in real time 24/7
    • Inspire consumer trust and crowdsource brand protection
    • Leverage IoT to eliminate blind spots
    • Maintain chain of ownership
    • Protect trading partners and consumers

And, of course, combat counterfeits and theft. Contact us today to learn more about pairing your brand with the finest supply chain solution for wine brand protection. Also be sure to read our other articles about the wine supply chain and why your supply chain is vital for effective brand protection and consumer engagement:

Wine Consumer Engagement: Ten Things to Know for 2022

Posted on by rfxadmin

Virtual tastings are so 2020. Don’t get us wrong: They’re still a thing. But to do wine consumer engagement right in 2022, winemakers have to do a lot more than ask people to hop on a Zoom call. That’s why today we’re talking about 10 things that are vital to successful wine consumer engagement.

Also, don’t forget that the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium starts today! We’ll be exhibiting with our fellow Antares Vision Group member companies FT System and Applied Vision, so sign up today and visit us at Booth 807.

Ten things to know about wine consumer engagement in 2022

Like our recent “Five Wine Supply Chain Trends for 2022” and “Trends for the Digital Wine Supply Chain” blog posts, we’re not ranking these aspects of wine consumer engagement. They’re all important. Winemakers should consider each carefully when crafting their engagement strategies.

1. Nail your story

Your brand’s story is vital to wine consumer engagement. (All consumer engagement, actually.) It’s the foundation of “the face” and the heart of the personality you’re going to project to your customers and potential customers. What do you want people to know about you? Where is your brand “coming from”? What sets you apart from other brands?

Many of the other aspects of wine consumer engagement we’re discussing today stem from and overlap with the decisions you make about your story. To get this right, expect to do some soul-searching and ask yourself some tough questions about who and what your brand is.

2. Know your customers

It’s Marketing 101, right? If you don’t know who’s buying your products, you’re missing opportunities and wasting money. Today, however, knowing your customers requires elbow grease. You have to devote time and resources to gather information (i.e., data) and develop profiles to inform your wine consumer engagement.

Here’s a handy tool: ALE. It’s an appropriately wine-and-spirits-flavored abbreviation for ask, listen, and engage. Ask consumers questions. Listen — really listen — to their answers, feedback, suggestions, opinions, etc. Importantly, what they say might not jibe with your own vision of your brand, so be willing to adapt and pivot and do the extra work to give people what they want, not what you want them to want.

To engage, pull out all the stops. Social media, of course. But you can also get out into the real world. Talk with sommeliers to see what’s trending with wine lovers. Talk with retailers to learn what people are thinking and buying. For instance, is there a cheaper brand that people are being drawn to? What brands have buzz?

We all know that wine can be a very personal experience. It’s part of its appeal. It’s why people get excited about wine and anticipate the purchase as much as the uncorking. Take advantage of that. Ask, listen, and engage.

3. Customer first, brand second

So, you’ve done the research and know who your customers are. Time to let them know all about your brand, right?

Not really.

Always remember that wine consumer engagement is about the consumer. They are the hero, not you. It can be a difficult lesson to learn, but your job is to guide people toward what they want and demonstrate the value your brand brings. Don’t make it all about you, because it’s not. Give people what they want to see and share, not what you want to show them.

4. Accept that you might not be that special

This might sting. You have to be self-aware. You have to know your strengths and weaknesses. You have look in the mirror and do an honest self-assessment.

What, if anything, makes you unique? Remember, unique means unlike anything else. One of a kind. Are your competitors saying they’re unique while making the same claims you’re making?

Industry observers are noting that wineries are saying the same thing. “Estate-grown,” “multi-generational,” “visionary winemaker,” and “terroir” are on their short list of traits and lingo that are decidedly not unique in the market. You can talk about these things, but don’t pin your identity on them.

Knowing your customers is what will make your brand stand out. What do they like (and dislike) about your wines? Where do they drink your wines? How do they “use” your wines? Are they talking about and sharing your wines on social media? What do they expect from you? Meeting their demands is what will make your brand special.

5. Be yourself

All this said, it is critical to be yourself. Don’t put on airs. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Don’t be a bore. Today’s consumers have a nose for you-know-what. If they get even a whiff of phoniness, watch out. So, you have to be authentic. Keep it real.

6. Focus on sharing

Think of wine consumer engagement as a self-perpetuating chain in which the links are interactions, including sharing between and among your customers. For this to happen, you have to create content that people want to see, experience, and share. The possibilities are virtually limitless — videos, contests, loyalty programs, giveaways, prizes … . Just remember to focus on your consumers, not yourself.

7. Always bring value to consumers

Ask yourself this question every day: What have you done for them lately?

You must always bring value to your customers. “ABV” — another industry-appropriate abbreviation. This means different things to different people, of course. For some, it might mean proving the provenance of your wines and demonstrating that you’re focused on transparency and sustainability. For others, it could mean sharing a picture of your team out in the vineyard or a fun promotion, such as winning a prize for sharing a video. If you’re not always bringing value to your customers, who are the heroes of your wine consumer engagement, you’re going to push them away.

8. Devote resources

Wine consumer engagement isn’t a “set it and forget it” proposition. It shouldn’t be an afterthought delegated to whoever might happen to have some spare time.

You need a person or a team to conceptualize and create content, push it out across all your channels, monitor and analyze reactions, make changes, and respond to what people are saying and asking. You also need to pay attention to what your competitors are doing and saying.

In other words, you have to be fully engaged in your consumer engagement.

9. Business as usual probably won’t cut it

It’s a cliché because it’s true: You have to think outside the box. Running an email campaign* or posting a video on Facebook then kicking back with a nice Pinot to watch your sales boom isn’t how wine consumer engagement works. It’s called consumer engagement for a reason: You want to get a response. You want to build that self-perpetuating chain of interactions. Creativity is key. It’s another reason to devote resources to make sure you’re doing it right.

*A note about email and marketing: Some people say it’s dead; others say it’s alive and well. Only you can decide if it works for your brand and if it should be part of your consumer engagement strategy.

10. Leverage supply chain data

We’ll let you in on our secret: The key to effective wine consumer engagement is your supply chain, which is a goldmine of actionable data.

The basic building block is serialization, which turns every product into what we call a “digital asset.” Each digital asset has a unique digital identity that can be monitored from production all the way to the person who buys it. With rich, traceable data about every item in your supply chain at your fingertips, you can establish and maintain connections with consumers before, during, and after the sale. For example:

    • Link every product to unique content and brand interactions
    • Give consumers the information they demand (e.g., provenance, transparency, sustainability)
    • Hyper-personalize and hyper-target every engagement based on location, time, or purchasing data
    • Empower consumers to reject counterfeits, alert for diversions/gray markets, authenticate products, help with recalls
    • Gain valuable insight into your customers

Final thoughts

“A message in every bottle.” This is rfxcel’s mantra for using your supply chain for wine consumer engagement. Our Traceability System provides granular data from the vineyard all the way into your customers’ daily lives. You can use it to define and tell your story, know your customers and bring them value, and inspire your brand to think outside the box.

If you’re at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium this week, stop by Booth 807 to see our solutions in action and learn more about how we can help your brand stand out in a very crowded market. If you aren’t there, contact us today to schedule a short demo with one of our digital supply chain experts.

And be sure to read our other articles about the wine supply chain and why your supply chain is vital for effective consumer engagement and brand protection:

rfxcel is part of
Rfxcel Logo

© 2023 ANTARES VISION S.p.A. - Via Del Ferro, 16 - 25039 Travagliato - Brescia - ITALY Tel.: +39-030-7283500 / Fax.: +39-030-5109958 / info@antaresvision.com - C/F PIVA: 02890871201 Registro Imprese di Brescia C.C.I.A.A. di Brescia (REA) n. 523277