Why GS1 Traceability Standards Matter in the Modern Food Supply Chain

Let’s be honest — traceability in the food supply chain has always been messy. Different suppliers. Disconnected systems. Spreadsheets passed back and forth. And when something goes wrong — like a contamination issue or product recall — chaos follows.

That’s where GS1 standards come in. They’re not just another acronym to memorize. They’re a powerful framework that helps food businesses speak the same data language, digitize every event in the supply chain, and make compliance and safety a whole lot easier.

If you’re looking for clarity, control, and compliance — GS1 is the foundation.

What is GS1 and Why It Matters in F&B

GS1 is a global system of standards used by over 2 million companies worldwide. It is best known for barcodes, but it’s much more than that. In the food industry, GS1 enables consistent, traceable product identification across every partner, region, and platform.

Why it matters:

• Your lot number is the same in every system
  
• Your supplier’s records match yours
  
• Your food safety documentation is traceable back to the source
  

That’s critical in a global supply chain where regulations vary and speed matters.

How EPCIS Powers Traceability

The real magic behind GS1’s traceability? It’s a standard called EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services).

EPCIS captures event-level data across your supply chain:

• What happened to the product?
  
• When did it happen?
  
• Where did it happen?
  
• Why did it happen?
  

Imagine this: Your seafood product moves from processing → cold storage → export → retailer. 

EPCIS logs every step. If there’s ever a food safety issue, you can trace the product’s exact journey in minutes — not days. No more phone calls. No more hunting down paper trails. Just answers.

Compliance Just Got Easier (FDA Rule 204, EUDR, and Beyond)

Governments are raising the bar on food safety and sustainability.

• FDA Rule 204(d) requires critical tracking events to be documented and shared
  
• EUDR mandates deforestation-free sourcing with proof
  
• Major retailers are demanding traceable, auditable supply chains
  

GS1 is the key to staying compliant. It standardizes how data is captured and reported — no matter your role in the supply chain. Without it, you’re at risk of delays, fines, rejected shipments, or worse — consumer trust lost.

How Farm To Plate Helps You Adopt GS1 (Without the Headache)

We know implementing new standards sounds overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be.

Farm To Plate makes GS1 traceability simple and scalable, even for complex supply chains. We support GTIN, GLN, and EPCIS event tracking, ensuring that every product movement is accurately recorded and matched across all stakeholders. 

It also enables B2B companies to comply with FSMA 204(d) mandates by automating record keeping for Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) such as shipping, receiving, and transformations.

Here’s how:

• EPCIS-based traceability events
• Smart Label generation (QR/barcode) tied to trace events
• Real-time recall simulation + reporting
• Invite-based supplier onboarding
• Compliance-ready data exports

Even better — our system works online and offline, so upstream operators like farmer, fishermans can still contribute data in remote areas.

Real Results 

In one of our pilot projects, a seafood brand was able to simulate a full product recall using EPCIS logs in under 3 minutes. Before that, it took days and dozens of emails.

It’s not just about checking a compliance box. It’s about building a resilient, trustworthy food supply chain.

Key Takeaways

• GS1 standards bring clarity, consistency, and transparency to the modern food supply chain
  
• EPCIS captures the full product journey — what, when, where, and why
  
• Compliance with FDA Rule 204(d) and EUDR starts with strong traceability
  
• With Farm To Plate, you can adopt GS1 standards without disrupting your workflow

Want to go deeper into how traceability works across the food supply chain?
Sign up for our Traceability Ebook or Request a Demo

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