Product Recall
Start Date: April 2005
Target Completion: November 2005
Project Status: Completed
Background
The forerunner to ECR Australasia, the Grocery Industry Supply Chain Committee (GISCC) produced a collaborative “Product Recall Guide, Packaged Food and Groceries” in 1997. The guide shaped trading partner procedures for managing recalls and withdrawals which were then reflected in the FSANZ “Food Industry Recall Protocol.” The guide reflected the absolute commitment of trading partners to protect the health and safety of consumers.
The increased incidence of recalls and withdrawals (mainly for labelling of allergens) following the revised Food Standards Code in December 2002 has again drawn attention to inefficiency and unnecessary costs for trading partners due to the divergent data requirements and inconsistent internal processes. Many of the affected products are also sold in New Zealand.
The matter has been discussed between representatives of AFGC member companies, some retailers and regulatory agencies and there is general agreement that the standardisation of data requirements, where possible accessing data from EANnet, and company response processes would improve the management of recalls and withdrawals.
Recalls and withdrawals impact many areas of both supplier and retailer operations and a collaborative approach to improve practices is likely to deliver maximum benefit. The support of regulatory agencies such as FSANZ would also be necessary, although FSANZ have already agreed that a standardised approach would be beneficial.
Objectives
The objective is to reduce inefficiencies and unnecessary costs for suppliers, retailers and wholesalers throughs support for consistent data requirements and processes for product recalls and withdrawals.
Project Team
Project Manager: Harris Boulton
Project Team: drawn from representatives of Australian and New Zealand retailers, wholesalers and suppliers.
The involvement of FSANZ in the project was also sought.