When you’re exporting seafood across international borders, one recall can derail everything. Disrupted shipments, lost revenue, and panicked compliance teams — all because no one could answer the question: “Where exactly did that batch go?”

This is the exact challenge a mid-sized seafood exporter faced — until they shifted to a digital traceability system built on GS1 and EPCIS standards.

In this story (based on real industry challenges), I’ll walk through how they used event-based tracking to simulate a product recall in under 3 minutes, protect their global relationships, and simplify compliance.  

The Challenge: Messy Records, Manual Recalls

Before adopting traceability tools, the team managed data across:

• Spreadsheets
• Emails from processors and distributors
• Scanned documents from suppliers

When a buyer asked about the origin of a specific frozen lot, it took over 48 hours to trace it back — assuming the paperwork was even complete. If that had been a contamination alert or recall request, the delay would have been devastating.

They needed a system that could: 

• Capture data in real time
• Standardize how traceability info was stored
• Let them simulate and execute recalls instantly

The Solution: GS1 + EPCIS with a Tech Solution like Farm To Plate

The seafood exporter implemented EPCIS-based traceability events — digitally logging:

• Packing dates
• Lot codes
• Cold storage transfers
• Transport handovers
• Destination and delivery info
  

Each event was timestamped, linked to a unique GS1 code, and stored in the cloud. The result?

• A live timeline of every product’s journey
• Recall simulation in a few clicks
• Full visibility for compliance audits and export documentation

Use Case Snapshot: Simulating a Product Recall in Under 3 Minutes

Scenario: A distributor flags a potential issue with Lot #4567 — a frozen fish batch delivered last week.

Without a Tech Solution or Manual Process

• Email the warehouse 
• Call the transport company 
• Dig through Excel files 
• Guess who received what, and when
  

With a Tech Solution like Farm To Plate

• The team searches Lot #4567 in the dashboard
•  Instantly views: Time of packing, Transit path, Final delivery location
• Triggers an automatic “hold/recall notice” across all systems
• Sends trace logs to internal and external stakeholders

Results & Business Impact

• Response time improved by 92%
• Earned renewed trust from a key buyer in Europe
• Avoided potential spoilage from delayed response
• Saved hours of admin work during export documentation

Note: It also helps those who need to streamline FDA Rule 204(d) recordkeeping.

Conclusion

When traceability works the way it should, your team doesn’t scramble — it responds.
And your buyers don’t just receive your product — they trust your process.

Whether you’re exporting: Seafood, Coffee, or Cocoa

This level of digital visibility isn’t a future wish list. It’s a present-day advantage.

Want to see how traceability can work in your own business?
Sign up for our Traceability Ebook or Request a Demo

Namrata Anand, Senior Technical Content Writer at Paramount Software Solutions & farmtoplate.io