The red meat supply chain has adopted the GS1 standards for Numbering, Barcoding and Electronic messaging for specific red meat supply chain activities such as:

• carton labelling
• carcase ticketing
• pallet labelling
• electronic messaging for National Vendor Declarations (eDEC)
• Electronic Meat Transfer Certificates (eMTC).

Many meat processing plants have commenced introducing these electronic systems. Therefore, meat processing workers need not only be aware that these systems exist, but also of the responsibilities associated with their daily work.