Trade groups to join forces on traceability initiative
Trade groups to join forces on traceability initiative
The Produce Marketing Association, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Produce Association plan to form a joint Produce Traceability Initiative to drive broad adoption of consistent traceability best practices throughout the produce supply chain.
The three associations are combining forces to focus on the urgent need to use existing standards for the most effective trace-back and trace-forward practices between supply chain partners -- from field to fork. Other associations representing key retail and foodservice buyer segments of the North American food industry have also expressed their intent to participate. These include the Food Marketing Institute, the National Restaurant Association, the International Foodservice Distributors Association and the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors.
"Our food-safety system is not complete without a more robust and quicker ability to rapidly recall our products and trace their history," PMA President Bryan Silbermann said in a press release. "The issue of how to have improved produce traceability is not about the technology, it's about changing our business practices. Effective traceability must be a business imperative for everyone in our industry. Consumers and regulators expect it."
In the press release, CPMA President Danny Dempster added, "In the last three years, CPMA and PMA have focused substantial resources developing our joint Implementation Guide to Fresh Produce Traceability. However, it's clear from a survey recently done by our two associations that a lot of work remains to drive greater adoption across the industry. Recent food-safety concerns have added urgency to the need for more effective traceability."
"The CPMA and PMA work on traceability to date has provided a good roadmap for the industry," United President Tom Stenzel added in the press release. "Now it's critical to drive industry support to actually implement some of these systems that can provide the traceability we need, without inefficiencies or costs that could be imposed upon us by well-meaning legislators or regulators who don't understand our industry."
The three associations were scheduled to hold further talks during the PMA Fresh Summit Oct. 12-15 in Houston, where traceability will receive substantial coverage in general sessions and workshops. An announcement will be made later this month with the names of industry leaders appointed to lead the new initiative.
The three associations are combining forces to focus on the urgent need to use existing standards for the most effective trace-back and trace-forward practices between supply chain partners -- from field to fork. Other associations representing key retail and foodservice buyer segments of the North American food industry have also expressed their intent to participate. These include the Food Marketing Institute, the National Restaurant Association, the International Foodservice Distributors Association and the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors.
"Our food-safety system is not complete without a more robust and quicker ability to rapidly recall our products and trace their history," PMA President Bryan Silbermann said in a press release. "The issue of how to have improved produce traceability is not about the technology, it's about changing our business practices. Effective traceability must be a business imperative for everyone in our industry. Consumers and regulators expect it."
In the press release, CPMA President Danny Dempster added, "In the last three years, CPMA and PMA have focused substantial resources developing our joint Implementation Guide to Fresh Produce Traceability. However, it's clear from a survey recently done by our two associations that a lot of work remains to drive greater adoption across the industry. Recent food-safety concerns have added urgency to the need for more effective traceability."
"The CPMA and PMA work on traceability to date has provided a good roadmap for the industry," United President Tom Stenzel added in the press release. "Now it's critical to drive industry support to actually implement some of these systems that can provide the traceability we need, without inefficiencies or costs that could be imposed upon us by well-meaning legislators or regulators who don't understand our industry."
The three associations were scheduled to hold further talks during the PMA Fresh Summit Oct. 12-15 in Houston, where traceability will receive substantial coverage in general sessions and workshops. An announcement will be made later this month with the names of industry leaders appointed to lead the new initiative.
