Project “Sea and Air Container Track and Trace Technologies: Analysis and Case Studies” TPT 01/2002T DRAFT FINAL REPORT

Objective of this Meeting: 1. To discuss a draft final report of the project; 2. To seek comments on the draft from this meeting and after; and 3. To seek endorsement on an approach for the project consultant to meet the 30 June 2004 deadline.

Project Objectives: To analyse the current and planned integration of track and trace technologies, including temperature monitoring systems, across APEC supply chains. To analyse the needs of firms requiring track and trace services and to establish whether different levels of functionality required by different firms are being met by available technologies (or are likely to be met in the future).

Project Objectives: (continued) To showcase the implementation of track and trace technologies in the APEC region through a minimum of three case studies. To evaluate the research and case studies to recommend best practices which will facilitate the uptake of track and trace technologies and improve the visibility, quality and reliability of delivery of product to export markets.

Project Scope Analysis of sea and air container tracking and tracing technology developments in APEC economies; Development of three case studies to examine the application of track and trace technologies and their integration across a supply chain in the APEC region.

Post TPT-WG 22 Progress: A new deadline for a final report: 30 June The draft final report summarises outcomes of research and consultation, a web-based survey, and analysis of three case studies to examine the application of track and trace technologies and their integration across supply chains in the APEC region.

Progress: (continued) Recommendations on best practices - both large-scale and small-scale solutions for track and trace of containers identified. TPT-WG collaborate with current United States work, to ensure technology solutions do not become trade barriers. Project outcomes in collaboration with the Project “Enhancing Secure Trade and Efficiency in the APEC Region with Intelligent Transportation Systems and e- Commerce Technologies”.

Summary of Recommendations Stakeholders should have access to information on the product and container in near real time. Information should be captured and made available electronically: status of the container, documentation, performance in real time and security of the load.

Automated Reading 3 technologies for reading container numbers: Barcode; Radio Frequency ID; and Optical Character Recognition. Recommendations (Cont)

Airline best practice: Automated reading of container numbers (barcode) with handheld readers linked to manifest or other database; Elimination of manual keying of freight data. Recommendations (Cont)

Shipping Best Practice: Machine reading of container numbers with readers linked to manifest or other database. Recommendations (Cont)

Way forward To drive the improvement of Track and Trace: through programmes where commercial trials are exposed to a wide section of the industry.

Summary of Comments on Draft Report - how to improve it - Overview  Current draft below the expectations of the project Request for Proposal.

Summary of Comments on Draft Report - how to improve it - Structure No clear structure and little understanding of end-to- end through chain – the concept of supply chain management - a gist of track and trace technology use (1 st project objective); Track and Trace technology analysis on page 31.

Summary of Comments on Draft Report - how to improve it - Structure. Case studies to be broadened to focus more widely ie beyond single/mode (air/sea) proprietary systems, two of which are exclusively cool chain logger related. Emphasis on the high tech proprietary system not consistent with the body of the report saying there is poor uptake and resistance to electronic track and trace technology.

Summary of Comments on Draft Report - how to improve it - Structure. Good report: a clear structure; project objectives; rationale as per the project Request for Proposal; project in the APEC context and methodology; analysis in alignment with the project objectives; resultant findings; and recommendations; Executive Summary to reflect an abridged gist of the main report.

Summary of Comments on Draft Report - how to improve it - Project Content Suggested more focus on the requirements relating to track and trace functionality for major stakeholder groups: who needs what information; when and in what form to achieve the objectives of trade facilitation, security, quality; how can track and trace technology provide this information; what else could the technology fulfil overall efficiency and cost reduction?

Summary of Comments on Draft Report - how to improve it - Project Content. How will a detailed review of existing and emerging technologies address the above requirements. This is to enable companies and APEC Governments to make some conclusions as to which to endorse and adopt.

Summary of Comments on Draft Report - how to improve it - Project Content. Much mention of Electronic Data Exchange (EDI) but no reference of the potential replacements of EDI such as webservices and ebXML (electronic business extendable mark-up language)

Summary of Comments on Draft Report - how to improve it - Project Content. Canada: more balanced representation of the state-of- play across all APEC members. Canadian applications (Port of Montreal) are not included in the draft. The draft should contain reference to regulation (Canadian and others) for the transport of dangerous goods. The focus should be on how terrorism affects track and trace technologies in APEC economies, not their economies per se.

Summary of Comments on Draft Report - how to improve it - Editorial Requirements The draft: incohesiveness; verbosity; poor grammar; conversational English; ambiguity; unsubstantiated statements; inappropriate sub-headings; acronyms without appropriate references; certain illustrations are too small, thus illegible.

Revised Timeline: April 04 : Draft final report for TPT-WG23, Beijing, China. May 04 : Revisions of the draft to reflect comments from TPT-WG23 and after - written comments to by 7 May June 04 : Revised draft final report for inter- sessional consideration by economies. 30 June 04 : Delivery of final report.