Food & Food Services

The ever-increasing complexity of food supply chain leads to emerging food safety challenges in Hong Kong. As over 90% of food consumed in Hong Kong relies on imports, food suppliers require a holistic approach to food safety and traceability, increase supply chain efficiency, manage risks, respond to food safety incidents, and conduct product recalls when necessary.

GS1 Hong Kong is dedicated to uplifting food safety and quality for food and food services industry through the provision of world-class supply chain standards, solutions, technologies and knowledge. 
 

Barcode – One Source of Truth 

The GS1 identification key (barcode) provides access to information about a product/food. The barcode establishes as ‘one source of truth’ for all food products and locations in the supply chain, from manufacturers to the final point of purchase, to improve food traceability. They can also provide faster response to food recalls and outbreak of food-borne illness.

GS1 Global Traceability Standards (GTS) 

GS1 Global Traceability Standards (GTS) are business process standard that improves the ability to track and trace food products through the supply chain. It is a building block for developing traceability systems, traceability assessments and auditing tools, industry or country specific traceability implementation guidelines. 

GTS have been jointly developed by a community of:

• More than 73 industry experts from over 20 countries
• Retailers / suppliers / GS1 Member Organisations / solutions providers from  different industries
• 800 companies from Asia, Europe and the Americas regions
• It is compliant with worldwide standards and requirements such as ISO 9001:2000, 22005:2007, IFS, BRC Global Standard, etc

GS1 HK enables food-related companies to build a visible and transparent supply chain to guarantee consumer safety, build consumer trust and protect brand image. 

a) Brand Protection - REAL Visibility  
Empower owners and consumers with instant product authentication and traceability to ensure products are genuine and improve supply chain visibility 

b) Smart Operations 
Drives business efficiency and safety with data intelligence like automated data capturing and real-time actionable insights throughout the entire operation flow. 

c) Smart Cold Chain Management  
Monitors temperature and humidity in real-time to ensure product quality and safety via Sensor Data Network (cold chain management) empowered by the global traceability platform ezTRACK™ 

d) Smart Traceability 
Built on EPCIS, it helps businesses to address the demand for end-to-end traceability and build trust among supply chain stakeholders, e.g. from farm-to-fork. 

e) Paperless Trading Services
Data Services facilitate paperless trading and the exchange of electronic orders, invoices and shipment notices among trading parties 

Through industry collaboration among regulators and key stakeholders, we are dedicated to improve food safety and traceability, so as to protect end consumers, boost consumer trust on the brands and respond to food incidents efficiently.

Hong Kong Food and Beverage Industry Advisory Board (HK F&B IAB) 
Set up by GS1 Hong Kong in 2018, Hong Kong Food and Beverage Industry Advisory Board is comprised of key industry stakeholders in food & beverage industry, academia and industry associations, with the vision of improving food safety, strengthening business and brand sustainability and enhancing consumer engagement via industry collaboration. 

 
Quality Food Scheme
GS1 Hong Kong Quality Food Scheme (formerly named as Quality Food Traceability Scheme) encourages enterprises to optimise their food traceability practices to build consumer trust and improve food safety in local food industry. Starting from September 2020, GS1 HK launched “Quality Food Scheme+” with SGS HK as the audit partner. Taking reference from food safety management and control standards, we aim to help companies enhance food safety and food traceability in a more comprehensive and effective way. Since 2015, numerous food companies, manufacturers and distributors have been recognised by the Scheme for demonstrating excellence in food traceability practices. Click here to learn more and join. 
 
Food Safety Forum 
One of the most well-known Food Forums in Hong Kong, sharing the latest food safety technologies & innovations, global standards, supply chain traceability & transparency, and success cases. Gathering industry practitioners, academia and administration officials, it serves as a platform for the food and beverage industry to exchange ideas, share industry best practice, technology adoption, as well as explore collaboration opportunities. 

Advocated Strengthening Efforts on Food Safety in Response Papers to Policy Address/ Budget  
In various response papers submitted to Government, GS1 HK made recommendations in strengthening food safety in Hong Kong with advanced technologies and collaborative effort. 

Provides Support to Centre of Food Safety’s Food Trader Portal  
GS1 HK provides technical support to the development and implementation of Food Trader Portal launched by Centre of Food Safety to facilitate food trade and strengthen import control. 
 

Trusted FoodNet
An online platform for food suppliers and restaurants to upload and show their food quality and safety certificates, so business buyers and consumers can access food related information anytime, anywhere via the connected, transparent and safe food ecosystem. Please visit and upload your food information to the platform. (https://trustedfoodnet.gs1hk.org/)

Smart Professional Services 
With global expertise and standard-based infrastructure framework, GS1 Hong Kong Smart Professional Services (SPS) supports the food industry in optimising their business operations, improving supply chain responsiveness, facilitating customer fulfillment and digitalising business processes. 

Our consultant and food safety experts offer tailor-made consulting services by providing analysis and diagnosis, making recommendations on process and proposing technical solutions and assisting implementation etc. 

Training 
GS1 HK also offers elementary to advanced seminars/ workshops/ trainings for the needs of different individuals / companies, with tailor-made courses available: 

a)    Introduction of food traceability 
b)    Global standards on food traceability and safety
c)    Food safety-related regulations
d)    Industry requirements
e)    Food safety strategy from theory to implementation
f)    Digital food supply chain 
g)    Worldwide case studies

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