Abstract: A traceability system for managing traceability information within production chains, where the production chain is modelled as a set of transfers of contents between uniquely identified containers. All containers have a globally unique, unchanging identifier. Containers have their identifiers permanently attached in a form such as a barcode label or a RFID chip. Traceability information is collected by making a permanent record of each transfer of contents from one container to another. The identifiers of the two containers and the time is captured. When a particular usage of a container finishes the end of usage is recorded. The recorded data can be queried to find all container usages that have had transferred to them, directly or indirectly, any of the contents of a particular container usage, or all container usages that have had any of their contents transferred, directly or indirectly, to a particular container usage.