As the food supply chain has become evermore global, the tracing of foodborne illness has become evermore complex. Although the Traceability Rule (FSMA 204) was enacted to mitigate that complexity, it has no provisions for interoperability between supply chains, primarily because FDA was not given the authority to require that.
15 September – https://foodsafetytech.com/news_article/public-private-partnership-aims-to-fill-gaps-in-supply-chain-interoperability/
So the Partnership for Food Traceability (PFT) has stepped up the plate to fill that gap. PFT is a public-private partnership between FDA, state officials, and all sectors of the food industry founded to help streamline the implementation of compliant traceability systems – accommodating both electronic and alternate/non-electronic methods to represent both large and small businesses.
A membership-based, sector-neutral organization, PFT provides a forum for stakeholders to come together with an equal voice to advance enhanced traceability. Companies that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods and their trade associations can join as voting members; technology vendors and technical experts as non-voting members; and FDA and other officials will have formal, non-voting participation in full membership meetings, committees, and work groups. With the government officials serving as technical advisors to provide perspectives on regulations, guidance documents, policies, and practices, the membership will work to establish a comprehensive vision for enhanced food traceability in the U.S.
Understanding that it can be difficult for small stakeholders and businesses to have a voice in industry forums, “PFT has been designed to provide a level playing field so that everyone, regardless of your size, your sector, your business model, has an equal voice in the process of defining that vision,” said Leavitt Partners Principal Eric Marshall.
There’s also recognition that the implementation of traceability is difficult and dependent on a lot of people, companies, and sectors of the industry. “You can’t simply flip a switch and turn it on, Marshall said. “You need a clear, coordinated plan for how you get from here to compliance; and then not just to compliance, but how you get from basic compliance to actual optimization and interoperability. We think that the PFT can fill that role and provide that kind of a vision.”
“Today, traceability is the foundation for business growth,” said Kevin Edwards, Vice President of Global Market Development for the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST). “The key to global digital traceability is a common data language and an interoperable approach; advancing our mission cannot be done alone.”
Echoing a similar sentiment The Acheson Group Executive Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Ben Miller said, “Our goal is to create that overarching vision and plan for traceability, but we are not intending to displace any of the work that’s come before, rather to extend it and bring it together in a town square concept. Importantly,” he added, “we don’t want to hinder innovation or efficiency.” In fact, Miller sees that as the principal return on investment of the group: “The more we can arrive at standardized approaches, the greater efficiency we will realize across the supply chain,” he said.