Method for controlling items on a production/distribution line, the items being transported arranged and maintained according to a given disposition along a transport path of the line through a reading zone toward a collector device operable to collect the items received from the reading zone to form a batch of a given number N of said items, each transported item being marked with a unique item identifier including unique item identification data of the item, the collector device including a sensor operable to detect that a batch of N items has been formed and deliver a corresponding batch signal to a controller, said collector device being further operable to deliver a batch of N collected items to a packaging device connected to the controller, said packaging device being operable to pack the batch of N items delivered by the collector device into a batch packaging marked with a batch packaging identifier including batch packaging identification data to form a packed batch and deliver said packed batch, characterized by comprising the steps of: reading at least one unique identifier on at least one of the items at corresponding at least one given position within the reading zone, by means of a first reader, the first reader being connected to the controller and sending corresponding first reader signal to the controller; extracting each unique item identification data from the received first reader signal in accordance with an ordering corresponding to said given disposition of the items and given position, by means of the controller; sequentially storing in a memory connected to the controller, to form a list of unique item identification data, each unique item identification data extracted from said first reader signal according to said ordering and position, by means of the controller; upon delivering of a batch signal by the sensor, delivering the batch of N items collected by the collector to the packaging device, packing said delivered batch into a batch packaging and delivering corresponding packed batch, and reading the batch packaging identifier on the batch packaging of the packed batch delivered by the packaging device by means of a second reader connected to the controller, the second reader sending corresponding second reader signal to the controller; extracting a batch packaging identification data from the received second reader signal, and retrieving in the list, according to said ordering and position, unique item identification data corresponding to at least one of the N items in the packed batch delivered by the packaging device, by means of the controller; storing in the memory said extracted batch packaging identification data associated with said retrieved unique item identification data, by means of the controller; and, based on said association, performing a track and trace operation comprising the control of whether the relative positions of the items have been modified during the transport along the transport path. reading at least one unique identifier on at least one of the items at corresponding at least one given position within the reading zone, by means of a first reader, the first reader being connected to the controller and sending corresponding first reader signal to the controller; extracting each unique item identification data from the received first reader signal in accordance with an ordering corresponding to said given disposition of the items and given position, by means of the controller; sequentially storing in a memory connected to the controller, to form a list of unique item identification data, each unique item identification data extracted from said first reader signal according to said ordering and position, by means of the controller; upon delivering of a batch signal by the sensor, delivering the batch of N items collected by the collector to the packaging device, packing said delivered batch into a batch packaging and delivering corresponding packed batch, and reading the batch packaging identifier on the batch packaging of the packed batch delivered by the packaging device by means of a second reader connected to the controller, the second reader sending corresponding second reader signal to the controller; extracting a batch packaging identification data from the received second reader signal, and retrieving in the list, according to said ordering and position, unique item identification data corresponding to at least one of the N items in the packed batch delivered by the packaging device, by means of the controller; storing in the memory said extracted batch packaging identification data associated with said retrieved unique item identification data, by means of the controller; and, based on said association, performing a track and trace operation comprising the control of whether the relative positions of the items have been modified during the transport along the transport path.