· 2 min read · FoodChainAPI editorial
Traceability Lot Code Source Reference: Build a Link That Works
The traceability lot code source is the physical location where a TLC was assigned. A source reference is an alternative way for FDA to access that location description. A general supplier homepage or product barcode may not provide the information needed.
Identify the assigning location
A supplier may have several packing facilities and one corporate office. Record the location that assigned the TLC, rather than substituting headquarters because it is easier to find in your vendor master. FDA's source guidance describes the location information and gives examples of references such as a facility registration number or a web address.
Keep the assigning source distinct from the immediate previous supplier. A distributor can ship a lot assigned elsewhere. If both fields point automatically to the distributor, your system loses the route back to the source.
Design a durable reference page
For a web reference, use a stable URL tied to the source location. Avoid temporary signed links that expire before records are needed. Define who updates the location information, how address changes are handled, and how historical records remain interpretable.
FDA permits reasonable security measures for a reference, provided FDA can obtain the information at no cost and without delay. A page that requires an unmonitored support ticket or an unavailable employee to approve access is a poor operational choice. Test the actual access process instead of assuming a working internal login proves readiness.
- Resolve the reference outside the supplier's internal network.
- Confirm it identifies the TLC-assigning physical location.
- Document an owner and recovery path for broken references.
- Retest references after vendor-system migrations.
Validate at onboarding and receiving
Ask a supplier for a sample TLC and its corresponding source information before the first shipment. Save that example as a test fixture for your receiving integration. A syntactically valid URL is not enough: inspect whether the content points to the correct facility.
FoodChainAPI's category lookup can identify products needing further traceability review, but it does not host or verify supplier TLC source references. Keep supplier reference validation as a separate step with an explicit unresolved state.
Put the product review into practice
Start with a candidate category in the free FTL lookup. Check product form and exemptions against FDA sources, then save the evidence behind your decision.
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Sources and scope
FDA sources checked October 4, 2026. Workflow suggestions are implementation guidance; category matches do not establish exemption or compliance status. Check the current FDA requirements for your product and activities.