New ISO Standard on Cold Chain Traceability, Led by Yuhu Cold Chain, Set to Reshape Global Food Logistics

October 14 marks the 56th World Standards Day, a significant moment to consolidate global consensus on standardization. Established by the IEC, ISO, and ITU, the World Standards Day aims to raise awareness of the role of international standardization in global economic development. This year’s theme, “Our shared vision for a better world: Spotlight on SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals,” highlights the core value of standards in promoting global collaboration and sustainable development. On the eve of the World Standards Day, the international standard ISO/TS 31514 “Requirements and Recommendations for Food Traceability in Cold Chain Logistics,” led by Yuhu Cold Chain, completed its DTS voting and passed unanimously, officially entering the final publication stage.

Founded in 1947, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) serves as the core global body in international standardization, with its standards carrying extensive influence and authority worldwide. In February 2022, Yuhu Cold Chain was invited by the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing (CFLP) Cold Chain Committee to join the ISO/TC 315 – Cold chain logistics as an international expert member. Leveraging its strengths as a multinational enterprise, Yuhu Cold Chain has fully utilized its familiarity with industry standards across different countries and regions, along with its talent pool in foreign languages, to actively participate in and lead multiple project teams. These efforts span key areas of the international cold chain standard system, including distribution, warehousing, transportation, and traceability.

In early 2022, commissioned by the CFLP Cold Chain Committee, Yuhu Cold Chain collaborated to elevate the national standard “Management requirement for traceability in food cold chain logistics” to an international standard. In July 2023, the project “Requirements and Recommendations for Food Traceability in Cold Chain Logistics” was officially approved, leading to the establishment of WG6 on Traceability. Holly Huang, Executive Director of Yuhu Group Hong Kong, was appointed as the project leader to oversee the development of the standard. The working group comprised industry experts from multiple countries, including Singapore, Japan, France, Malaysia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, India, and Uganda, who collaboratively conducted discussions, revisions, and refinements of the standard’s content.

“Requirements and Recommendations for Food Traceability in Cold Chain Logistics” specifies the requirements and guidelines for establishing a traceability system for food in cold chain logistics chain, which enables integrated functions such as collecting traceability information, managing traceability information and implementing traceability. This document is applicable to the management processes by supporting food traceability whereas cold chain logistics service providers are needed, covering transportation, warehousing, loading and unloading and other related points in cold chain logistics links towards the end customers.

From actively participating in international standard-setting to promoting the implementation of these standards in physical operations, Yuhu Cold Chain is injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the global cold chain industry through “Chinese solutions,” leveraging the power of standardization to build a robust line of defense for global food safety.