An electronic traceability system based on EPCIS standard: Pilot study

Abstract

Within the eTrace project to develop and evaluate an electronic traceability system,a pilot test was performed in Sweden to test an EPCIS-based traceability system to track product through the cod fish value chain. The pilot was conducted successfully from 17th – 21st May, 2010 in Simrishamn, Sweden. The crates containing raw fish and fish fillets labeled with RFID tags were read using handheld scanners as they moved through the value chain from catch to the retailer. The information related to each finished product was linked back to a particular Catch location, landing site and processing location. This information was uploaded to the EPCIS repository and was available to the value chain stakeholders through a web based interface. This system enabled efficient tracking of fish and electronic information exchange throughout the value chain. An increase in cod sale in the retail store was also observed and was attributed to the traceability information displayed next to the product for the retail customers.