mpXML: Meat & Poultry Data Standards
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Setting open, voluntary e-commerce standards for the meat and poultry supply chain.

Traceability and COOL

Overview:Over the last several months a working committee of suppliers and retailers under the guidance of mpXML has been compiling a general guidance document on traceability for the US meat and poultry supply chain.
 Downloads
Latest draft of Traceability Guidelines, as of 02-11-2010
GS1 is in the process of developing a global checklist for traceability that can be used to audit traceability compliance. mpXML has already worked through many of the items on the checklist and submitted comments. This document includes both the mpXML comments and the remaining checklist items that still need mpXML member comment.
The key objectives for the guidance document include:
  • Define basic traceability terminology, principles and practices;
  • Identify minimum practices and best practices for traceability;
  • Detail each supply chain participant's obligations for product traceability.
We have attempted to document and recommend an approach to traceability that is consistent with global perishable-specific traceability standards. Consistent guidance across all perishables will facilitate implementation on the part of suppliers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and foodservice operators, and will improve traceability throughout all perishable supply chains.
Also attached is a short guidance document for the meat and poultry supply chain regarding the implementation of the USDA Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program. This guide summarizes the best-practice actions that suppliers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and foodservice operators should take regarding labeling and record-keeping for products that are defined as covered commodities. It also provides a standard process for incorporating COOL information into EDI messages.
We are now asking for supply chain participants to review these two documents and provide their feedback and comments on their content. If possible, please return your comments by email to Blake Ashby at ashby@primary.net no later than November 16, 2009. This will allow us time to incorporate them in to a final version and forward the traceability document to GS1 US before the close of the year as the next step towards its publication. When commenting, please note the draft page number and line number for each proposed text revision or general comment. Thank you for your assistance in establishing consistent industry-sponsored guidance that provides clear traceability and COOL compliance guidance for all partners across the meat and poultry supply chain.