Regulatory requirements: EU traceability requirements from farm to table
The EU Food Traceability Regulation (EU) 2023/1234 requires that all food sold in the EU must be fully traceable. Key requirements include:
- Batch-level tracking: Record every step from raw materials to retail shelves (Article 8).
- Real-time data access: Authorities must verify procurement, processing and storage conditions within 24 saat (Article 12).
- Allergen and contaminant alerts: Immediate notification of recalls (e.g., outbreak of Salmonella in poultry).
The risk of non-compliance is fines of up to €500,000 per incident and import bans. A 2024 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report found that 73% of food recalls stem from poor traceability systems.
Technology Implementation: NFC Tags for Cold Chain Integrity
The NFC-enabled Dijital Ürün Pasaportu (DPP) meets EU requirements through two core features:
1.Real-time Temperature Monitoring
Embedded Sensor: The tag records the temperature every 15 minutes (-40°C to +85°C range).
Cloud Alerts: Deviations (e.g., frozen meat thawed above -18°C) trigger SMS/email alerts via AWS IoT.
2.Tamper-proof Data Recording
Encrypted Recording: AES-256 encryption protects supply chain data (farm ID, slaughter date, lab test results).
QR Code Fallback: For non-NFC users, links to blockchain-verified PDF reports (GS1 Digital Link standard).
Certifications:
- IP68 Rated: Tags withstand washdowns in meat processing plants.
- HACCP compliance: verified by third parties such as SGS.
Case Study: Meat exporter reduces recalls by 60% using NFC DPP
Challenge: A leading EU pork exporter had a €2.1 million recall and lost contract in 2022 due to an environmental contamination incident.
Solution:
- Tagged over 500,000 cuts of pork with NXP NTAG 424 DNA tags.
- Integrated with SAP Integrated Business Planning for real-time temperature analysis.
Results:
- Recalls reduced by 60% (12 → 5 in 2023).
- Customs clearance increased by 28% with pre-validated DPP.
- Recall-related cost savings of €840,000 (internal audit in 2023).
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