The traceability of products along the supply chain should be improved by the introduction of a new standard from the British Retail Consortium, which is claimed to plug the gap in knowledge at the warehousing and distribution stages.
The Storage and Distribution Standard forms part of the BRC's Global Standards series and is due to be published on August 21. The standards allow suppliers to prove to their retail customers that they are maintaining high levels of product safety.
The new standard will apply to all modes of transport and covers: product inspection and sorting; contract packing; quantity control inspection; and contract chilling and freezing.
BRC head of technical services, Kevin Swoffer, said: “Storage and distribution is the link between manufacturers and retailers, but it can get overlooked. For the first time retailers and suppliers around the world will have a universally accepted standard, which will make a significant contribution to ensuring product safety and integrity.”