Food Traceability

What is it?

Traceability is a basic instrument to ensure food quality all along the food distribution chain, and it is essential to achieve the confidence of the final consumer.

In OCA Global we are able to certify this open, voluntary, and non-discriminatory system – each company or brand has its own certificate and Traceability number, not being subject to any particular interests from other business groups or large distributors nor being linked to a brand or commercial name either.

This certification scheme is unique in the EU and there is no reference to the existence of a certification system with the same characteristics in other countries, as it includes from feed manufacturers to cutting plants, including farms and slaughterhouses. Since its creation in 2000, the main livestock producers in Spain have been certified. 

The Traceability certification improves food safety, but it can also be a useful commercial tool, and it comes in handy when taking into account the need of any company in the food sector to have control, evaluation, and monitoring systems on its suppliers.

The obligation for all suppliers with a Traceability certification to be audited periodically (once a year) by an external and independent entity – with no connection with the slaughterhouse or cutting room – gives confidence to the consumers and ensures effectiveness. In addition, the great number and the diversity of certified companies, as well as the fact that the external certification is a voluntary system, is what gives prestige and acts as a differential aspect to boost up the sale of certified products.

Legal framework

• Since the implementation of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, Traceability is a mandatory requirement for companies in the agri-food industry, as well as for feed and livestock manufacturers that supply livestock destined for human consumption.