Australian regulations for food traceability demand clear visibility and strict adherence. Compliance efforts can be negatively impacted by the complexity of today’s supply chain. In order to ensure food items are distributed in advance of expiration dates, products must be able to get onto store shelves fast.
Australians in the agriculture and food production industries count on the accuracy of technologies that offer end-to-end visibility for their products and goods. To maintain regulatory compliance and deliver fresh, high-quality goods to market, today’s food producers rely on barcode traceability solutions that enhance the monitoring and tracking capabilities of their products as they’re distributed along the supply chain.
This article will examine how a durable and dependable barcoding solution can streamline the efficiency of business processes for food producers.
3 challenges facing food traceability efforts
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code outlines the specific compliance requirements of food items distributed in the Australasia region. By law, both businesses and not-for-profit organisations must follow food standards to keep people safe from food-related illness.
Food labelling legislation requires most packaged food items to have a label, so that consumers can make informed decisions. These national guidelines have reinforced the need for labelling solutions that address compliance issues while monitoring goods in the supply chain.
Despite the importance of these initiatives, here are some of the vulnerabilities facing the supply chain for food producers:
1. Low-durability labels
Once packages are shipped, exposure to inclement weather can result in the inability to discern the labels themselves. Rain, excessive sun, snow – virtually every element is the enemy of a hand-crafted label, and even the most durable pen or marker has been known to smudge.
2. Hand-written manifests
Messy, illegible handwriting on labels or shipping manifests detracts from the precision needed to get products to their intended destination. Handwriting is a slow process and is prone to errors. Labels generated by a computer system and label printer are generally regarded as a more productive means of generating labels. The Brother QL-820NWB Professional Label Printer can capture important product information on easy to scan labels.
3. Inconsistent records or barcode information
Manual processes prone to human error, like data entry or record-keeping, can result in lost products or perishable goods expiring before reaching their destination.
Food traceability standards in Australia
As outlined by the Government of Australia’s food safety standards information report, a good food traceability system enables corrective actions – such as a food recall – that can be implemented quickly and efficiently when something goes wrong. A comprehensive traceability system helps to identify contaminated goods and remove them from distribution before they can reach the consumer’s plate.
An efficient traceability architecture is one that links barcodes placed on products to inventory management platforms. In the event that an expired or defective product is scanned, a status update is transmitted in real-time to software systems that alert manufacturers and distributors. This allows the shipment of the product – and others packaged on the same date or under the same conditions – to be immediately removed from distribution.
Thermal transfer printers like the TD-4750TNWB are supported by label design apps for desktop PC’s and mobile devices, and include Software Development Kits (SDKs) that integrate seamlessly with existing applications. This allows users to choose the best option for their label printing needs.
This is a critical component pertaining to food traceability standards, and these integrated solutions work to eliminate public health risks.
Easily
produce food labels and nutritional information for inventoryThe barcode advantage – Brother food traceability solutions
Brother offers an array of thermal label printers equipped to handle the reliable barcode creation needed to ensure end-to-end traceability across the supply chain. Your workforce will enjoy increased efficiency and less downtime by deploying a thermal label printing solution that forgoes the need for ink and toner.
These durable devices offer robust functionality, and can be tasked with a number of labelling duties across the supply chain, from ingredient labels to order codes.
Brother’s thermal transfer range of label printers like the TD-4650TNWB can produce high-resolution barcode labels that withstand abrasion and harsh weather conditions.
Larger jobs that require a higher volume of labels or barcodes can benefit from Brother’s range of Titan Industrial Label Printers. Devices like the TJ-4522TN have reliable direct thermal and thermal transfer technology, and can print more than 10,000 high-quality labels a day.
Furthermore, a Brother RuggedJet like the RJ-3250WB enables food manufacturers to print barcodes and labels on the go. These compact portable printers are built to last and can endure drops from up to two metres in height, depending on the model.
Users at the end of the supply chain will be able to easily read and decipher the ingredient contents and nutritional information, thanks to the resilience and durability of Brother labelling devices and products.
The Brother RuggedJet RJ-3250WB enables food manufacturers to print barcodes and
labels on the goStreamline your operations with Brother
The reliability of Brother labelling and mobile printing solutions can support the visibility of your essential packaging, labelling and shipping systems. Asset tagging capabilities will allow real-time tracking of your inventory, so that you can identify vulnerabilities in your shipping or delivery schedules. This level of insight allows you to react to product damage or recall situations in accordance with Australian regulations.
Streamlining your business processes by deploying digital, durable barcode and labelling solutions will strengthen your food traceability efforts across the supply chain. You’ll never lose sight of product expiration dates, or access to important product information.
To learn more about the importance of tracking food products – from the point of harvest to your consumer’s dinner table – download our Food Traceability Standards in Australia whitepaper. When you’re ready to increase your traceability efforts with a barcode platform that’s built to last, contact us today.
