GS1 Standards for Traceability & Recall

Because of its ability to provide globally unique identification of trade items, assets, logistic units, parties and locations, the GS1 System is particularly well suited to be used for traceability purposes. To further develop GS1 capability to assist consumers, businesses and governments worldwide, GS1 members - suppliers and retailers across the world - have defined traceability as a business process and produced a Global Traceability Standard, which links it to enabling technologies and relevant GS1 System tools.

GS1 Global Traceability standard - A business process standard 

The GS1 Traceability Standard is a business process standard describing the traceability process independently from the choice of enabling technologies. It defines minimum requirements for companies of all sizes across industry sectors and corresponding GS1 Standards used within information management tools.

• The Standard maximises the use of globally established and implemented GS1 System tools that uniquely identify any “traceable item”, describe the creation of accurate records of transactions, and provide for fast data communication about the traceable item between trading partners.
• It meets the core legislative and business need to cost-effectively trace back (one step down) and track forward (one step up) at any point along the whole length of the supply chain, no matter how many trading partners and business process steps are involved and how many national borders have

To download the GS1 Global Traceability Standard: http://www.gs1.org/gsmp/kc/traceability

The Traceability Process, how it works ?

The GS1 Traceability Standard defines business rules and minimum requirements to be followed when designing and implementing a traceability system. They are clustered around a matrix of roles and responsibilities for each step of the traceability process.

	The Plan and Organize sub-process determines how to assign, collect, share and keep traceability data. Furthermore, it determines how to manage links between inputs, internal processes, and outputs. It is a prerequisite phase.
	The Align Master Data sub -process determines how to assign identifications to the parties and physical locations, trade items and if appropriate to assets. It also determines how to exchange Master Data with trading partners.
	The Record Traceability Data sub-process determines how to assign, apply and capture traceable items identification and how to collect, share and store traceability data during the physical flow.
	The Request Trace sub-process determines how to initiate and respond to a traceability request.
	The Use Information sub-process enables the use of the previous processes to take appropriate action as required by legal and business requirements.

GS1 Product Recall standard – A business messaging standard

This new standard serves as a common-sense blueprint enabling all supply chain stakeholders to implement more effective product recall processes and notifications.  The standard defines, standardizes and harmonizes the critical attributes to be captured and shared among trading parties and regulators during a product recall alerting and messaging process. It is a GS1 XML business message standard.

To download the GS1 Product Recall Standard : http://www.gs1.org/gsmp/kc/recall

Need support? Contact the GS1 Office nearest you.