IIFET 2004 Japan Proceedings
STUDY ON BUILDING A TRACEABILITY SYSTEM FOR WHALE MEAT
Takashi WAKABAYASHI
Alpha Hydraulic Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd., t-wakabayashi@ahec.jp
Akira NAGANO
Future University – Hakodate, nagano@fun.ac.jp
Sadayoshi MIKAMI
Future University – Hakodate, s_mikami@fun.ac.jp
Shinji KUWABARA
North Japan Port Consultant Co., Ltd., s_kuwa@njpc.co.jp
Hideto NARUMI
Nippon Data Service Co., Ltd., h-narumi@ndsinc.co.jp
Sadayuki OKA
Nagasaki Prefectural Government, s_oka@pref.nagasaki.lg.jp
ABSTRACT
Whale meat has been one of traditional diets in Japan. However whaling is now prohibited except for
the purpose of scientific research.
Therefore it is important to keep an eye on poaching and to make distribution routes clear to obtain
an international credibility. Then it is highly required to build a pilot traceability system and test it
immediately.
On the basis of this context, we made a study on building a traceability system for whale meat. This
study will contribute to clamping down any illegal trades of whale meat, ensuring safety of foods and
wining confidence by consumers.
This study is composed of following three studies. 1) Development of a technology, which
makes it possible consumers to know the whale meat’s history from its production through distribution by
cellular phone. 2) Development of a technology, which makes it possible consumers to know whether
the whale meat is lawful or not by cellular phone. 3) Development of a technology which makes it
possible to prevent other species or poaching meat from mixing into, or to prevent a weight of whale meat
from being manipulated during distribution. We developed these three basic systems by an
examination with flatfish. As the next stage, we intend to examine whale meat traceability
system in the field this year.
Keywords: traceability; distribution; cellular phone; marine products
1.INTRODUCTION
Whale meat has been one of traditional diets in Japan. However whaling is now prohibited except for
the purpose of scientific research.
Therefore it is important to keep an eye on poaching and to make distribution routes clear to obtain an
international credibility. Then it is highly required to build a pilot traceability system and test it
immediately.
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IIFET 2004 Japan Proceedings
This research is aimed at securing legitimacy, safety of foods and relationship of mutual trust with
consumer, and it is composed of developments of following technologies to make a whale meat tracability
system.
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A technology which makes it possible consumers to know the whale meat’s history from its
production through distribution by cellular phone.( safety of food and trust by consumer)
A technology which makes it possible consumers to know whether the whale meat is lawful or not by
cellular phone. (Legitimacy)
A technology which makes it possible to prevent other species or poaching meat from mixing into, or
to prevent a weight of whale meat from being manipulated during distribution. (Safety of food and
trust with consumer)
We will use the server of the FUTURE UNIVERSITY-HAKODATE(FUN), to execute the proof
examination and prove the effectiveness of this tractability system.
The target at the first year is construction of this system. Therefore we will use only red meat which
distribute by the frozen refrigeration.
2. System outline
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This system has following features.
Release of DNA information (Certification of displayed production area, proof of obedience, and
facilitating safety.)
DNA check and total weight check. (Exclusion of forgery, certification of displayed production area
and proof of obedience.)
Prevention of falsification when whale meat are subdivided in shop. (Facilitating safety and proof of
obedience)
Facile acquirement of information by reading QR codes on the products by cellular phone.
(Consumers can easily confirm safeties of products.)
Interactive information system by network
Unitary management of data by a certain server.
Easy handling of huge data by QR code and central control server.
This system is applicable for whale meats from both research whaling and occasional capture by set
nets, and will contribute to a stable supply of fishery products, a preservation of fishery resources, and
mixing prevention of import products and another areas.
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IIFET 2004 Japan Proceedings
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IIFET 2004 Japan Proceedings
①Produ c er
DNA registration
Capture
Subdivide work
Subdivide product
Fig.1　Makeing the QR code
(The actual proof
for a flatfish)
②Distribution
↓
Fix the QR code to product
Weight　ＡＡｇ
Individual discernment and weight management
The destination and
weight information
(Fix the QR code to random sampling meat for DNA registration)
The destination and
weight information
← Pre ve ntion of forgery
The destination and
weight information
Total weight ＡＡｇ
Fig.2　Input the date
(The actual proof
for a flatfish)
The destination and
weight information
③Store
(1)Store
Read the QR code
Weight　Ａｇ
↓
subdivide work(Sashimi)
↓
Fix the QR code
Fig.3　The tag attached
in Sashimi
(2)Store，・・・・・
Read the QR code
Weight　Ｂｇ
↓
subdivide work(Sashimi)
↓
Fix the QR code
①
②
③
①
②
③
↓
ａg
↓
bg
↓
cg
↓
ａag
↓
bbg
↓
ccg
Keep guard on the fraud by the network.
Read the QR code
Weight　ＡＡｇ
↓
Shipping
↓
①
②
③
↓
↓
↓
Ag
Bg
Cg
Information
← Preven tion
of f orgery
(The actual proof
for a flatfish)
Total weight Ag
④Con su me r
↑
When consumer parchase it
Total weight Bg
DNA identification is performed about the meat by which
random sampling was carried out first.
Producer information,distribution information etc
The consumer can read the data by the cellular phone with a built-in camera.
Fig.４（１）　Reading the data
Fig.４（2）　Reading the data
by a cellular phone
(The actual proof
for a flatfish)
Total weight ＡＡｇ
by a cellular phone
Inform
Fig.5　Information on a cellular phone
(The actual proof
for a flatfish)
(The actual proof
for a flatfish)
Fig.２　The image of the alteration prevention traceability system using IT
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IIFET 2004 Japan Proceedings
3. Advanced points of the system
This system has following advanced points.
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The information about subdivided meat’s weight is cumulatively recorded on the QR code linked
with basic data such as DNA information, which determined at just after capture.
The DNA check by random sampling was implemented.
The information disclosure system makes it possible for consumers to obtain product and distribution
information directly by use of cellular phone.
Online data management through server and verification procedure of peculiar index, weight of meat,
make it possible to detect manipulations even when the meat is divided into smaller pieces.
The simple system, WEB service on server and two dimension bar code, covers everything from tag
to terminal.
This is very cheap system, using only the Internet and cheap plastic tags.
4. Reliability of system
This system is considered to be reliable from following features.
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Very durable tag, which is made by heat transcript print on plastic board, is used.
It is possible to draw information from QR code even if about 30% of tag are damaged.
The falsification can be detected, since this system watchs accordance of individual identification
information (weight) and the QR code, even if it is subdivided in shop.
ID issued from the central server ensures this system’s security
5. Future application
We have developed these three systems using flatfish instead of whale meat.
In order to accomplish of the total system, it’s expected to be applied to any foods, which tend to be
forged, such as fishery products, meats and vegetables.
Moreover, in future, if oversea suppliers introduce the system and apply it to their export foods, then
we could supply much safer import foods to our customers in Japan.
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