Method for controlling items on a production/distribution line, the items being transported arranged according a given disposition along a transport path from a first zone toward a second zone on the line, each transported item being marked with a unique item identifier including unique item identification data of the item, the items transported from the second zone being collected by a collector device to form a batch of a given number N of said items, said collector device including a sensor operable to detect that a batch of N items has been formed and deliver a corresponding batch signal, wherein a first reader reads the unique identifier on each one of the items within said first zone, the first reader being connected to a controller and sending corresponding first reader signal to the controller, 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, wherein the second zone is adjacent to the sensor of the collector device, the transport path comprises an intermediate zone between the first and second zones, and an item may potentially be removed from, or added to, the intermediate zone, the method being characterized by comprising the further steps of: 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 an ordering corresponding to said given disposition of the items, by means of the controller; upon delivering of a batch signal by the sensor, reading the unique item identifier on a test item at a corresponding test position according to said ordering within the second zone by means of a second reader connected to the controller, wherein the second reader is located before the collector device, the test position corresponds to one of the N items, expectedly having ranks N+1 to 2N respectively, to be collected by the collector device to form the next batch, and the second reader sends corresponding second reader signal to the controller; extracting the unique item identification data from the received second reader signal, and searching in the list the unique item identification data matching said unique item identification data extracted from the second reader signal to obtain matching unique item identification data corresponding to said test item, and retrieving in the list, according to said ordering and test position, among the unique item identification data preceding said matching unique item identification data and which correspond to unique item identification data of the N items forming the batch of collected items, at least one unique identification data by means of the controller; and storing in the memory said retrieved at least one unique item identification data as corresponding to an at least one item of the batch of collected items, 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 an ordering corresponding to said given disposition of the items, by means of the controller; upon delivering of a batch signal by the sensor, reading the unique item identifier on a test item at a corresponding test position according to said ordering within the second zone by means of a second reader connected to the controller, wherein the second reader is located before the collector device, the test position corresponds to one of the N items, expectedly having ranks N+1 to 2N respectively, to be collected by the collector device to form the next batch, and the second reader sends corresponding second reader signal to the controller; extracting the unique item identification data from the received second reader signal, and searching in the list the unique item identification data matching said unique item identification data extracted from the second reader signal to obtain matching unique item identification data corresponding to said test item, and retrieving in the list, according to said ordering and test position, among the unique item identification data preceding said matching unique item identification data and which correspond to unique item identification data of the N items forming the batch of collected items, at least one unique identification data by means of the controller; and storing in the memory said retrieved at least one unique item identification data as corresponding to an at least one item of the batch of collected items, by means of the controller.