Pilot enterprises demonstrate their achievements in the construction work of quality tracking system during the meeting in Tai'an, Shandong province on Nov 28. [Photo/my0538.com]

A promotion meeting of food industry quality tracking system was held on Nov 28 in Tai'an, Shandong province, with officials from districts' and counties' food and drug administrations and food company representatives attending to learn and exchange ideas regarding the establishment of quality tracking system.

During the meeting, pilot enterprises such as Taishan Mountain Brewery, Taishan Asia Food Co, and Hetao Liquor demonstrated their achievements in the construction work of quality tracking system.

According to a senior official from Tai'an municipal food and drug administration, the establishment of food quality tracking system is one of the department's priorities this year, and by the end of 2019 the system will cover all food products in Tai'an.

Generally, the food-tracking system uses Radio Frequency Identification, wireless technology that can be used to check the identity of almost everything and make counterfeiting difficult. The system will bring several changes in the food industry. When food is produced, it will be designated a bar code that will be followed until it is purchased by a customer.

That customer can then discover various information about the product, including its place of origin, producer, dates of production and packing and seller.

The food quality tracking system should be established in accordance with the Food Safety Law and related regulations of the State Food and Drug Administration.

The quality tracking system will help make food safer and make the market regulation more convenient, according to the Tai'an municipal food and drug administration.

Three ways have been recommended by the Tai'an municipal food and drug administration to establish the system. Food producers can use the electronic food-safety tracking platform built by the Shandong provincial food and drug administration. On the other hand, food companies can establish their own online tracking system and share data with the provincial platform. For micro and small enterprises with underdeveloped informatization levels, traditional written documentations are recommended.

Currently, the Tai'an municipal food and drug administration is pushing forward the construction work step by step according to different food classifications and company sizes. Pilot work has been carried out in several categories including dairy products, alcohol, cooking oil, meat products, tea, and food additives.