A traceability system for beef products based on radio frequency identification technology in China

Abstract Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is an automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technique and it is the representative technology for handling beef traceability. In this paper we offer a complete solution including: frequency, identifier information system, information system, data organisation, tag reclaimation and control technology, from three segments of the beef production process in China. From the farm to the slaughterhouse, electronic identification ear tag technology was used to identify the individual animal. From the slaughterhouse to the processing plant, gambrel identification was used to transfer the carcass information from the “old ear tag” to a “new ear tag”. Last, gambrel RFID was converted to UCC/EAN‐128 barcode labelling with a wireless electronic scale. The whole solution was evaluated successfully in Beijing. Keywords: AIDCbeefradio frequency identification (RFID)traceability