In a traceability system, information of a change in distribution situation and form of an individual article, and information of identification of the individual article is collected from each of distribution sites, and collected information is strung in accordance with a predetermined rule. A flow of distribution is known and managed based on the strung information. This makes it possible to know a location from which the individual article is distributed and a route through which the individual article is distributed, thus allowing safety management of the individual article.