Traceability Technology Proves FSMA 204 Works, Thousands of Suppliers Adopting Now

July 16, 2024 at 07:00 AM EDT

Suppliers are using interoperable ReposiTrak solution to share FSMA 204 food traceability data, including lot codes, with retail and wholesale customers ahead of January 2026 deadline

ReposiTrak (NYSE: TRAK), the world’s largest food traceability and regulatory compliance network, continues to implement end-to-end traceability for thousands of food supply chain operators in accordance with the requirements of the FDA’s FSMA 204 law before the January 2026 enforcement deadline. Suppliers, retailers and wholesalers are using automation and data exchange to cost-effectively exchange traceability lot codes, shipment details including location and quantity information, and more.

“Traceability is inherently good,” explains ReposiTrak CEO and Chairman Randy Fields. “It’s the single most important way for food supply chain operators to create more transparency within supply chains, speed the recall process and enhance food safety while meeting the requirements of the law under the FDA’s FSMA 204 Traceability Final Rule.”

The FDA finalized the FSMA 204 food traceability law in November 2022, announcing requirements for food manufacturers, processors, packers and retailers to maintain records containing certain Key Data Elements (KDEs), including lot codes, for each Critical Tracking Event (CTE) in the supply chain for certain foods. Those KDEs must be stored in a retrievable format that can be sent to the FDA within 24 hours of a request, thereby facilitating more effective foodborne illness outbreak investigations.

Leveraging its established inventory management and out-of-stock reduction SaaS platform, ReposiTrak developed, tested and has rolled out the ReposiTrak Traceability Network® (RTN), a solution that enables food supply chain operators to meet and exceed FSMA 204 requirements at a low cost without the need for additional hardware or software. Hundreds of suppliers are already exchanging traceability data with their retail and wholesale customers through RTN and thousands more are in the queue. Suppliers can connect to an unlimited number of in-network retail and wholesale customers to share data for a low, flat fee, and there is no cost to retailers and wholesalers.

“There are some who say that traceability can’t be done, it’s too expensive or that it’s technically too difficult. Through our experience implementing traceability, though, we can say that is not the case,” continued Fields. “It’s important for the industry to know that traceability is possible and that there are suppliers, retailers and wholesalers out there who are already doing it.”

Food supply chain operators interested in learning more about traceability can contact ReposiTrak Chief Customer Officer Derek Hannum at dhannum@repositrak.com.

About ReposiTrak

ReposiTrak (NYSE: TRAK), formerly Park City Group, provides retailers, suppliers and wholesalers with a robust solution suite consisting of three product families: food traceability, compliance and risk management and supply chain solutions. ReposiTrak’s integrated, cloud-based applications are supported by an unparalleled team of experts. For more information, please visit repositrak.com.