Have you ever seen a traceability number written on fishery product packaging? It’s easy to mistake it for country of origin labeling or a safety certification number, but its purpose is entirely different. We’ve compiled information on the data recorded by the Fishery Product Traceability System, how to check traceability numbers, and its distinctions from country of origin labeling.

Inquire about Traceability Data for Oyster Shipments

Scope of Records for the Fishery Product Traceability System

Fishery Product Traceability Management is a system that records product information at each stage of production, distribution, and sales. Records of producers, production sites, inbound/outbound logistics, and trading partners are maintained at every stage. This allows for identifying which stage handled a problematic product and locating the items subject to recall. The specific items viewable vary depending on the information registered for each product.

Check Product-Specific Record Provision Scope

Fishery Product Traceability Numbers and How to Check Them

Fishery Product Traceability Management Numbers and Labeling

Traceability Management Labels and Numbers are printed on product packaging, sometimes accompanied by a QR code. These are different from standard product barcodes or quality certification numbers.

Fishery Product Traceability Number Inquiry Procedure

By entering the number into the Product Traceability Inquiry menu on the Fishery Product Traceability System website, the inquiry results will display the traceability number, product name, company name, address, and traceability stage. Open the corresponding record and compare the production site and distribution information with the label on the product in hand.

Differences Between the Fishery Product Traceability System and Country of Origin Labeling

Country of Origin Labeling indicates the country or region where fishery products were produced, harvested, or caught. Traceability management differs in that it records the stages a product undergoes from production through distribution and sales. Since the information that can be checked through each system is different, a traceability number cannot substitute for country of origin labeling.

Precautions When Verifying the Fishery Product Traceability System

A traceability number is a means to find distribution routes and does not equate to passing a safety inspection. For raw oysters, it is crucial to distinguish between those for raw consumption and those for cooking, and to check the storage temperature on the label. Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) for fishery products manage hazardous elements in the production and processing stages. Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) for fishery products manage hazardous elements in the production and processing stages.

Samsam Moolsan introduced the Fishery Product Traceability System for raw oysters in November 2013.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Fishery Product Traceability System

What should I do if the fishery product traceability number is blurry and unreadable?

Take a photo showing the entire label and product name, then send it to the seller along with your purchase details. Guessing unreadable numbers may lead to searching for an entirely different product.

Why is a participating company found in the Fishery Product Traceability System, but its products are not?

Even participating companies do not register all products they handle under traceability management. Please inquire with the company, providing the purchased product name and traceability number, to confirm if that specific product is registered.

Can I search by product name without a traceability number?

Product Traceability Inquiry also allows searching by product name, company name, or item name. In this case, you must also specify a search period. If not found in the search results, broaden the period or re-verify using the traceability number on the label.

How can I check traceability information for subdivided fishery products?

If there is no number on the subdivided packaging, request the original packaging’s traceability label and inbound/outbound records from the seller. Even for the same item, traceability information varies by product, so do not substitute with a number from a different product.

Is sales prohibited if a product does not have a Fishery Product Traceability System mark?

No, that is not the case. The domestic Fishery Product Traceability Management system primarily operates on a voluntary registration basis for companies, so many products do not have the traceability mark. The presence or absence of the Fishery Product Traceability System mark alone cannot determine sales eligibility.

Is the imported fishery product distribution traceability management the same system?

While the name is similar, it is a different system with different applicable subjects and procedures. Imported fishery products are reported and inquired about according to distribution traceability management standards.

Consult about Fishery Product Supply Traceability

References

National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, Fishery Product Safety Information, Fishery Product Traceability Management System

Fishery Product Traceability System, Product Traceability Inquiry

National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, Country of Origin Labeling System

Government Civil Service Call Center, Fishery Product Traceability System Guide

Samsam Moolsan, Company History