Track And Trace In China

By Yuxiang Zhang

Track and trace technology has significant value for both industry and society. For industry, track and trace solutions can solve quality management problems during manufacturing, improve product quality, and increase customer satisfaction. For society, it can prevent adverse effects from contaminated or defective goods. Therefore, both Chinese industry and the government are increasing efforts to promote the establishment of a reliable, safe traceability system.

According to a senior engineer who works in GS1 China, most of the information tags in use now adopt bar code technology and radio frequency identification technology (RFID tags), which are predominantly used for pigs, cattle, sheep and other livestock. The isotope and DNA techniques are still in the experimental stage.

In the pharmaceutical industry, the Chinese departments of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic, Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, and the State Administration for Industry & Commerce of the People's Republic of China, jointly issued a document titled "Notice of the implementation of electronic monitoring of product quality through special provisions of strengthening food safety supervision and management by the State Council." These government organizations have instituted electronic monitoring of key products through the formal issuance of industrial production permits to manufacturers for approximately $350 US each. Manufacturers are also required to apply for certification of each product, for about $730 US each (application fee, testing fees, examination fees, etc.).