Guidance document: Advancing end-to-end traceability

Abstract

The Guidance document: “Advancing end-to-end traceability along capture fisheries and aquaculture value chains” responds to a critical need for consensus towards establishing end-to-end traceability through globally agreed and standardized understanding of the critical tracking events (CTEs) along the fish value chain, as well as sources of key data elements (KDEs) related to fish production and product identification. In particular, the Guidance aims at developing insights and addressing gaps in developing and implementing traceability systems for both the private sector and government. Supported by deliberations through various consultations between 2021 and 2022, it also provides technical advice in the enforcement and adequate verification of traceability in fish value chains and seeks to act as a benchmark of existing traceability systems to evaluate their efficacy and identify associated gaps.

The document addresses these objectives through the identification of CTEs and KDEs along the fish value chain (sections 3 and 4) and, where possible, the identification of supporting standards based on the standards and guidelines of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST). It includes discussion and recommendation narrative (sections 5 and 6) whereby the overarching takeaways and advice is to: a) identify and define standardized KDEs and CTEs for commercial and regulatory traceability; and b) follow strict due diligence using a holistic and integrated approach involving all stakeholders at legal, commercial and operational level prior to commitment.