UK’s FSA Pilots Blockchain For Meat Inspection Compliance & Food Safety Monitoring System

Using Blockchain Technology for Meat Inspection

Blockchain is becoming an ever-popular system, not only adopted by private companies, but also governmental agencies. For instance, the U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA), which is the system responsible for monitoring meat safety.

The agency adopted a trial system, which tracked the meat produced by unnamed cattle slaughterhouses. This type of approach promotes “improved transparency” in the supply chain. The slaughterhouses and the FSA analyzed data produced by the trial.

Sian Thomas, the head of FSA information management, released a statement indicating that he believed the agency would benefit from blockchain technology, due to its ability to add value to the food industry. He further added, “Our approach has been to develop data standards with industry that will make theory reality and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to show that blockchain does indeed work in this part of the food industry. I think there are great opportunities now for industry and governments to work together to expand and develop this approach.”

At the end of the pilot, the agency will look into other programs that could give farmers access to data concerning their animals.