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Technical Implementation Background

The Global Traceability Framework for Beef & Leather (GTFBL) is built upon globally recognized data standards published by GS1. While the GTFBL defines what data must be collected by industry actors,…

John Heggelund
Updated by John Heggelund

The Global Traceability Framework for Beef & Leather (GTFBL) is built upon globally recognized data standards published by GS1. While the GTFBL defines what data must be collected by industry actors, the EPCIS standard with its companion Core Business Vocabulary (CBV), defines how that data should be formatted and structured. The GTFBL uses both the GS1 EPCIS Standard and GS1 Digital Link Standard to establish a common practice for data query and sharing between trading partners. 

Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS)

EPCIS is GS1’s standard for event-based traceability that establishes data interfaces and formats for capturing and sharing physical event data within a supply chain. As an open standard, it provides a common method to record and share what happens to products as they move through the supply chain — answering the questions of what, when, where, why, and how. Understanding this standard in its entirety is beneficial but not required for implementation of the GTFBL.

The following sections of the EPCIS 2.0 Standard are the most relevant within the context of the GTFBL:

  1. Section 7, Data Definitions
    • Defines the abstract models used to capture and transmit traceability data within EPCIS.
  2. Section 8, Service Layer
    • Defines how services should accept and process requests for traceability data.
  3. Section 10, JSON / JSON-LD Bindings
    • Defines how the core data definitions should be expressed in JSON and JSON-LD format.
  4. Section 12, REST Bindings
    • Defines the required endpoints and their functionality for EPCIS Query and Capture interfaces.

Core Business Vocabulary (CBV)

The Core Business Vocabulary (CBV) is a companion to EPCIS that ensures consistency in how supply chain events are described. It defines a broad set of data attributes and values used within EPCIS systems that allow organizations to represent traceability data in a standardized manner. Aligning structure (via EPCIS) and language (via CBV) ensures event records are clear, predictable, and interoperable across the entire supply chain. Understanding this standard in its entirety is beneficial but not required for implementation of the GTFBL.

The following sections of the CBV Standard are the most relevant within the context of the GTFBL:

  1. Section 6, Use of Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs)
    • Defines how URIs are used.
  2. Section 7, Standard Vocabularies
    • Defines standard data types used to create traceability data.
  3. Section 8, User Vocabularies
    • Defines how data types created by users must operate, such as when generating a Global Location Number (GLN) for a new location that was purchased or built.

GS1 Digital Link is a standard that connects traceability identifiers—such as product or location codes—to useful information, like product details, facility information, company contacts, or even traceability records. It defines how entities and services are looked up, retrieved, and used within EPCIS systems.

The following sections of the GS1 Digital Link Standard: URI Syntax are the most relevant within the context of the GTFBL:

  1. Section 5, Examples of GS1 Digital Link URIs
    • Provides guidance on the different types of digital link URIs.
  2. Section 6, AIDC Issues
    • Defines general specifics on the use of digital link URIs in data carriers.
  3. Section 7, Glossary
    • Defines key terms used throughout EPCIS
  4. Section 8, Changes Since Version 1.1
    • Defines changes to the standard since the previous version.

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