Traceability can seem abstract until a supplier reports a defect affecting a product batch. At that point, the shop needs to know quickly which units it received, which are still in stock and which have already been sold.
Traceability starts when goods arrive
For products with a batch number, manufacturer's reference or other identifier, keep this information with the supplier delivery record. An invoice alone is not always enough to distinguish between batches received several months apart.
Know where the product came from
Keep the supplier's identity and contact details, invoice, exact product reference, quantity received and date. For directly imported products, manufacturer documentation and compliance information become even more important.
Know how many units have been sold
A good till or ERP system can show quantities sold by product reference and period. When a recall concerns a specific batch, the ability to link it to your stock is crucial.
Withdrawal and recall are different
A withdrawal prevents a product from continuing to be made available in the supply chain. A recall concerns products that have already reached consumers and requires informing them so that they can return, destroy or stop using the product, according to the instructions.
RappelConso
When a business recalls a consumer product in circumstances covered by French rules, it must report the recall on the official RappelConso platform. Published notices help consumers identify the product and understand what action to take.
Prepare a procedure before an incident occurs
Decide who blocks the product at the till and online, who contacts the supplier, who checks stock, who writes the customer notice and who files the report. The procedure can fit on one page, but it avoids improvisation.
Also revisit the GPSR guide and our guide to checking supplier deliveries.
Official sources
French Ministry of the Economy — Reporting recalls on RappelConso · DGCCRF — Product alerts and recalls