Blog/eu food traceability law

How the new EU Food Traceability Laws Affect Food Importers

Written by

Brighton Mboya

Published on

Are you exporting food products to the European Union? If so, you need to be aware of the EU's General Food Law Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. This regulation has significant implications for food importers and could affect your business. Let's dive into what this means for you and how you can stay compliant.

What is the EU General Food Law Regulation?

The EU's General Food Law Regulation is a comprehensive framework designed to ensure food safety and traceability across the entire food supply chain. It applies to all stages of production, processing, and distribution of food and feed products entering the EU market.

Key Requirements for Food Importers

  1. Traceability: You must be able to identify who supplied your product and which businesses you've supplied. This "one step back, one step forward" approach ensures full traceability throughout the food chain.

  2. Record Keeping: Maintain detailed records of your suppliers, product information, and transaction dates. While the regulation doesn't specify a minimum period, it's recommended to keep records for at least 5 years.

  3. Rapid Response: In case of a food safety issue, you need to quickly provide information to authorities and be prepared to withdraw affected products from the market within hours.

  4. Risk Assessment: Implement science-based risk assessment in your food safety practices, considering both immediate and long-term effects on consumer health.

  5. Transparency: Be prepared to provide clear information about your products and processes, including details on avoiding specific adverse health effects.

How This Affects You

Compliance with these regulations is not just about following rules – it's about maintaining your access to the lucrative EU market and protecting public health. Non-compliance could result in rejected shipments, fines, or even being barred from importing to the EU. Remember, even if your product complies with specific EU food safety provisions, authorities can still take action if there's reason to suspect the food is unsafe.

Real-World Impact

The importance of these regulations becomes clear when we look at real-world scenarios. For instance, in 2004, a [dioxin contamination in potato peels] (https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2004/11/08/Dioxin-scare-highlights-value-of-EU-tracking-system) used for animal feed was quickly traced and contained thanks to the EU's traceability system. This prevented contaminated products from reaching consumers and minimized trade disruptions.

How JANI AI Can Help

At JANI AI, we understand the challenges these regulations pose for food exporters. Our cloud-based platform is designed to help you meet these requirements effortlessly:

  1. End-to-End Traceability: Our system tracks your products from farm to fork, ensuring you always have the required information at your fingertips.

  2. Digital Record Keeping: Say goodbye to paper trails. Our platform securely stores all necessary records, making it easy to maintain and retrieve information for the recommended 5-year period.

  3. Real-Time Data: With our supply chain mapping feature, you can access real-time data about your products, enabling responses to any issues within hours, not days.

  4. Risk Management: Our comprehensive data collection supports effective risk assessment and management, helping you identify and mitigate potential health risks.

  5. Transparency Support: JANI AI helps you maintain the level of transparency required by EU regulations, including detailed product information and handling instructions.

By implementing JANI AI's solution, you can ensure compliance with EU regulations while streamlining your operations and protecting your market share. Our system is designed to adapt to the specific requirements of various food sectors, from fresh produce to processed foods.

Learn More and Stay Compliant

For more detailed information about the EU's General Food Law Regulation, visit the official EU Food Safety website.

Don't let these regulations catch you off guard. Stay ahead of the curve and ensure your business continues to thrive in the EU market.

Ready to see how JANI AI can transform your food traceability process? Book a demo today to learn more about our features tailored for EU compliance.

Remember, in the world of food exports, traceability isn't just a requirement – it's your competitive advantage and a crucial tool for protecting public health. Let JANI AI help you turn compliance into opportunity and build trust with your EU customers.