Traceability show to focus on foodstuffs and RFID

Traceability 2005 will address two key international issues: the application of EU regulation 178/2002 in the agri-foodstuffs industry, and the advent of RFID technology.

The Traceability 2005 trade fair and conference, to be held in Paris on 25-27 January 2005, will address two key international issues: the application of EU regulation 178/2002 in the agri-foodstuffs industry (applicable as of 1 January), and the advent of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology (or electronic chip technology) in the logistics and textile sectors.

Tracabilite 2005 (or Traceability 2005) is claimed to be the premier international trade show covering all types and aspects of traceability, and a forum for the exchange of information as well as the sharing of experiences in the field of traceability.

European Union regulation 178/2002, which takes effect on 1 January 2005, makes traceability a requirement.

According to the regulation, "the traceability of food, feed, food-producing animals and any other substance intended to be, or expected to be, incorporated into a food or feed shall be established at all stages of production, processing and distribution" (Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and the Council of 28 January 2002).

As a result of the forthcoming regulatory change, concerned companies are under increasing pressure to bring their operations into line with the new legal requirements.

First of all, companies urgently need accurate information on the interpretation of the regulation with industry-specific recommendations.

Second, company executives and decision-makers badly need the support of experts and consultants in order to help them make the necessary changes to the structures and quality approaches in use in the companies that they run.

Thirdly, the corporate sector requires traceability solutions and equipment that can be easily integrated into existing structures at an appropriate cost justified by proven profitability-increasing potential.

At the Traceability 2005 event, visitors will have an opportunity to meet equipment and solution providers offering a wide range of choices designed to help companies ensure compliance with the latest regulations.

Visitors will also be able - during targeted conference sessions - to take advantage of the experiences of companies that are already using traceability solutions.

Regarding RFID, the current revolution lies in the open-loop implementation of this technology in the consumer goods sector.

The number of radio-frequency labels in use will no longer be counted in tens of thousands, but rather in tens, or even hundreds, of millions.

In 2002, 323million labels had already been installed, with 50 per cent in manufacturing, 47 per cent in the automotive industry, and 8 per cent in the animal-breeding sector.

Total worldwide turnover for the technology is approximately $530million.

The most conservative forecasts predict a 250 per cent increase between now and 2007, with turnover exceeding $1.3billion for 1.6billion labels by 2007.

Supply-chain applications will represent the lion's share of the market, with 46 per cent of the total.

Not to be missed at Traceability 2005, the radio frequency chip was already the highlight of the 2004 event.

In 2005, the RFID centre will take a more operational and practical approach to presenting RFID technology.

Closed-loop and open-loop applications will both be presented.

As an example of closed-loop applications, RFID is used in the aerospace industry to manage product life cycles with offline access.

The electronic label serves as a local memory designed to save, process, and update structured data directly on the item concerned.

As for open-loop applications, in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and retail sectors, RFID enables users to track the temperature of the products transported.

In the textile sector, the true change lies in technology that enables protection at source.

Banners that control their logistic chains are now using existing networks and integrating EAS (emergency alert system) antitheft tag trackers into their specifications.

Several general and specialist retailers are expected to announce that their 2005 textile collections will arrive in stores already protected.

Exhibitors at the RFID centre will include IER, Baumer, Air Liquide Services, Checkpoint Meto, Tagsys, ASK, SATO Europe, PAXAR, Infologic, Sokymat Identification, Tiflex and Balogh, among others.

Tracabilite 2005 (Traceability 2005) is the show covering all types and aspects of traceability, and a forum for the exchange of information as well as the sharing of experiences in the field of traceability.

The show will take place from 25-27 January 2005 at CNIT - Paris La Defense.

The trade show will be open from 9am to 6pm.

Details of the conference schedule will be available on the web site from the end of October 2004.

Exhibitors can be expected to include auditors, consultants, training consultants, and legal advisers; standards bodies, quality certification bodies, and public authorities; research laboratories and related bodies; finally, software houses and equipment suppliers.

Visitors come from a wide range of sectors, including the agri-foodstuffs industry, aeronautics, the automotive industry, the chemicals industry, distribution and mail-order companies, luxury goods, express delivery services, the pharmaceuticals and health sectors, transport and logistics, the manufacturing industry, consumer goods, electronics and telecommunications.

Visitors hold a variety of positions within organisations, from senior management, financial management, and quality control and quality management, to positions in research and development, logistics, production, and information systems.

Visitors may also be heads of traceability projects, technicians, specialists in technology and methods, and designers.

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