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Successful conclusion to Belgian pork sector tracing exercise
15-04-2008
In its crisis centre the FASFC established a training team that was responsible for precise practical preparation and supervision of the exercise. It was a nationwide exercise conducted in real time from 14-18 January 2008.
Fictional contamination affects 4,164 pigs
The exercise simulated the impact on 4,164 pigs from 44 pig farms. The animals were slaughtered and introduced into the pork chain five days before the start of the tracing exercise. Initially 14 slaughterhouses were involved. From one hour to another this expanded to include cutting plants, meat-processing plants and other meat processing operators and meat products (such as slicers, traders and wholesalers). Eventually the entire distribution sector and meat chain trade organisations were involved.
At the end of the exercise (i.e. eight days after the ‘contaminated’ batches of pigs were slaughtered), almost 3,000 operators received products that had been involved in the tracing of the pigs from the affected batches. This also included 1,350 points of sale in the traditional distribution sector.
Belgian meat sector passes FASFC traceability test
This exercise was unique because all possible operators from the meat sector were involved and collaborated on a voluntary and active basis.
In addition to perfecting traceability within the meat line, the FASFC also wants to make the various meat operators aware of the importance of faultless internal tracing. Consequently, the results of the study were very positive. The various components within the sector cooperated efficiently in the simulation and passed on accurate information. Only in a number of cases was it felt the ‘time’ factor could be better attuned.
This simulation took place in the context of a legal obligation: Since 1 January 2005 traceability in every link in the food chain has been mandatory in Belgium. As a result of traceability, in the case of a human, animal or plant health hazard, it is possible to immediately identify the suspect product(s), withdraw it (them) from the market and identify their origin in order to adjust or suspend production. These rules stem from the Royal Decree of 14 November 2003 on the self-checking, traceability and obligatory notification in the food chain, as well as the obligation on producers to make all required data available to the FASFC in relation to this traceability.
Lieve Busschots, spokeswoman for the FASFC, was pleasantly surprised by the progress of the exercise. “Nobody had any experience in such a large-scale project and we (as well as the sector) were pleased that there were only a few barriers in the widespread cascade system. Furthermore, we could never have imagined that starting from 14 slaughterhouses around 3,000 national operators would be involved!”
The simulation had the support of FEBEV (slaughterhouses and cutting premises) and Fenavian (processed meat products industry), two trade organisations. “Thanks to their active co-operation we were able to target and mobilise the entire sector for this voluntary exercise.”
