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The GS1 Ireland Magazine | Spring 2009

BRIDGE Project successfully demonstrates Pharma traceability

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GS1 Ireland,The Nutley Building, Merrion Road, Dublin 4Tel: (01) 208 0660 Fax (01) 208 0670Email: info@gs1ie.org

www.gs1ie.org

The front cover of this issue featuresthe very successful BRIDGE PharmaTrack & Trace Pilot which wasfunded by the EU Commissionunder the FP6 programme. Thepilot concept was developed by theGS1 in Europe EHI (EuropeanHealthcare Initiaitive) and followedon from an earlier project whichdemonstrated how the medicationused for treating haemophilia patients could be tracked frommanufacturer to point of care. The significance of the BRIDGEpilot is that it has clearly demonstrated the feasibility of printingGS1 Data Matrix bar codes (containing serialised GTINs, batchand expiry information) on patient packs at normal line speeds.This is really very critical as regulatory bodies such as the FDAand the EU are considering the mandating of patient packserialisation in order to secure the pharmaceutical supply chainagainst the increasing threat of counterfeit products.Furthermore, this development will lead to dramaticimprovements in patient safety and supply chain efficiency byenabling patient packs with bar codes containing batch andexpiry data to be scanned. Accuracy of product recalls wouldalso be enhanced. At present, only a fraction of recalled productis ever found and destroyed due to the lack of visibility acrossthe supply chain.

Irish Pork Products RecallTalking of visibility, the recent total recall of Irish pork productsillustrates a serious shortcoming in the existing traceabilitysystem. Had pork products been marked with GS1 DataBar barcodes containing batch details it would have been possible tohave had a more targeted recall. This would have reduced therecall costs and indeed the impact on Ireland’s Food Islandbrand. Looking on the positive side, I am certain that lessonshave been learned in terms of the criticality of having effectiveand efficient traceability systems. The added benefit of goodtraceability systems is the fact that we have clear evidence thatthey are more than self-financing. This is because the improvedproduct visibility and processes lead to better supply chainmanagement and real cost reductions through the eliminationof paperwork.

GS1 Global ForumThe media refer to the pork recall as a crisis. Strangely enoughthe Chinese characters which make up the word crisis, ,actually mean danger and opportunity. At the recent GS1Global Forum in Brussels this was explained by our Chairman,Bob McDonald of P&G, and his advice was to turn crisis intoopportunity. In a very well articulated talk on leadership he

Editor/AdvertisingManagerRoss Carew 087 223 5867

ContributorsJim BrackenDenis ColemanRoss CarewBarry SpellmanAdreena CullenJohn Jenkins

CirculationManagerAdreena Cullen(01) 208 0671

DesignerMila Print & Design087 927 2973

CEO’s Comment 2

GS1 News 3

The BRIDGE Project 4-8

Report on BRIDGE Project 4-6

Interview with John Clark, Athlone Pharmaceuticals 7-8

Food Traceability – Irish Pork Dioxin scare 10

GS1 lobbies Government oneCommerce 11

GS1 Solution Provider Accreditation 12-13

EPCglobal/RFID 14-17

EPCglobal President at GS1 Ireland seminar 14

GS1 Spain presents revolutionary interactive shopping cart 14

European Pallet Association EPC/RFID pilot programme 15

German soap factory benefits from EPC/RFID 15

EPC/RFID in high fashion in Sweden 16-17

GS1 Professional Services 18-19

GS1 Mobile Com 20-21

New Members 22

Index CEO’s Comment

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stressed the need for organisations to be agile in timesof crisis and to focus and excel in the execution of thefundamentals.

Among the presentations at the Global Forum was afascinating one from Carrefour on how they plan toexploit Mobile Com (scanning product bar codes withmobile phones) to improve customer services. Variousapplications included extended packaging (because ofthe scarcity of space on packaging) and productinformation from GS1 data pools which help shopperscheck to see if products contain allergens, etc. “Yes wescan and so can you” was the catchphrase for thesession. There is an article in this issue which detailscurrent developments in Mobile Com.

eGovernmentTurning to domestic matters, the crisis in our publicfinances has highlighted the need for ensuring thatour public services operate as efficiently as possible.Only by doing so will we be able to competeinternationally. GS1 Ireland in its pre-Budgetsubmission has been urging the deployment ofeGovernement and in particular a total changeover toelectronic invoicing across all public services.Countries such as Sweden and Denmark, which havealready done so, have achieved significant savings andROI.

Current DevelopmentsI would also like to draw your attention to our newlook website. Please visit it and give us your feedback.Finally, I am pleased to tell you that our data pool pilotcontinues and it is proving valuable in terms oflearnings which we are documenting and will reporton at a future date.

Jim BrackenChief Executive Officer

The Board and management of GS1 are pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Kelly,Bob Semple and Marco Pattori to the Supervisory Board.

GS1 News

Michael Kelly

Michael is Chair of the HigherEducation Authority – the policy andfunding body for higher educationin Ireland. His career to-date hasbeen based in the public sector.Other senior assignments over thelast decade include DeputySecretary General of the

Department of Justice, Equality andLaw Reform and Secretary Generalof the Department of Health andChildren. Currently, his time isdivided between the HEA role, someconsultancy work and a number ofdirectorships.

YES WE SCANAND SO CAN YOU

User community and Solution Providerscollaborate in EU BRIDGE project

The Pharma Traceability Pilot - building acomplete item-level traceability systemwithin the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Finding strategies that improve patient safety is a hottopic for pharmaceutical companies and healthcareproviders alike. With errors in medication administrationand the problem of counterfeit drugs entering healthservices both increasing, it’s essential that technologieswhich can track drugs and monitor their progressthroughout the entire supply chain are implemented assoon as possible. Getting the correct, authentic drugs topatients quickly and accurately is an essentialcomponent in reducing medical errors and increasingpatient safety. Implementing systems that support thetraceability of products also help ensure product recallsare effected thoroughly and swiftly, preventing patientsbeing exposed to sub-standard, or dangerous drugs.

Quite apart from improving patient safety, having themeans to automate key elements of the globalpharmaceutical supply chain and receive liveinformation about the location of products significantlyimproves visibility, reduces administrative overheadsand consequently delivers tangible efficiencies.

Piloting traceability technologies in thepharmaceutical industryFor the past two and a half years, members of thepharmaceutical supply chain user community and agroup of innovative IT solution providers, together withGS1, the global standards organisation, have beenparticipating in the BRIDGE (Building Radio frequencyIDentification solutions for the Global Environment)project, a 3-year research and development project part

funded by the EU. One of its Business Application workpackages was the Pharma Traceability Pilot, whichaimed to demonstrate full item-level traceability in alive operating environment.

The project’s overarching objectives were to implementa complete supply chain traceability system forpharmaceutical products to improve patient safety andincrease supply chain efficiency. Additionally this wouldfacilitate the development of related supply chainapplications such as electronic pedigree,authentication, recall, inventory management andfinancial reconciliation.

Implementing the traceability trial The project - the operational pilot having beencompleted in May 2008 - is the only one of its kind inthe world to involve the trialling of such acomprehensive standards-based tracking and tracing

Figure 1 - GPS Trace of Product shipped from Athlone Labs. Ireland toKent Pharmaceuticals

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system within a live, end-to-end supply chain spanningdrug packaging, their distribution, right through totheir receipt at the hospital pharmacy.

Pilot participants included:• Drugs companies, Althone Laboratories, Actavis and

Sandoz • Dutch contract packer, Tjoapack • Distributors, Kent Pharmaceuticals and CPG Logistics • Transport provider, Movianto• Wholesaler, UniChem • Recipient/customer, Barts and the London NHS Trust• Equipment and printing solution vendors, Domino• Project management and business consulting, JJ

Associates• Technical design and software development, Melior

Solutions• EPCIS database provision, VeriSign Inc • Provision of coding structure, standards and RFID

consultancy, GS1 UK

A range of technologies and standards wereimplemented to allow fifteen different types of drugs tobe tracked from the start of their journey at thepackaging plants – one in Ireland, one in theNetherlands - to the end, at Barts’ and the Londonhospital.

Technology and standardsData Matrix symbology was used on all levels ofproduct packaging from individual items to productbundles, cases, pallets and even transport lorries. It waschosen for its cost effectiveness and robustness and itsability to carry a 4-string data structure, which was firstdeployed by GS1 Ireland during the NCHCDHaemophilia Medication pilot of early 2006. In this casethe structure comprised the GTIN, serial number, expirydate and batch number.

In addition, RFID tags were employed on cases andpallets in hybrid labels, with printed bar codes. Selectedpallets were also fitted with active devices to allow GPStracking across the international supply chain. Everysingle pack of each product involved was assigned aunique serial number. Using this and the process ofaggregating the contents to other packaging levels thatwere also assigned unique serial number identifiersallowed full traceability of every single item from thepackaging line to the final destination. Printing systemswere installed that enabled the required codes to beassigned, printed and checked within the productionline. EPCIS, EPCglobal’s network standards for supplychain-wide data collection was also implemented tocapture data at each ‘handover’ point in the journey.

The pilot process goes livePrior to the pilot commencing, all participants receivedin-depth training on the systems they would be

responsible for, or operate. During the pilot’s operation,all technology partners provided on-site and phone-based application support, recording issues andrectifying glitches.

Step 1At the patient pack level, each item was coded with aunique SGTIN (serialised Global Trade Item Number), inthe form of a 2-D Data Matrix code together with theexpiry and batch information.

Step 2Packs were aggregated into a case coded with an SGTINcorrectly identifying the contents as a grouped tradeitem. The case label was a hybrid, or multi-format type,capable of storing the SGTIN code and expiry/batchinformation as a Data Matrix code, GS1-128 linearbarcode and human readable text. The SGTIN was alsoencoded into the RFID tag. This ensured that the caselabel would be readable no matter what system wasused downstream.

Step 3Finally cases were scanned as they were aggregatedonto pallets. The RFID tag was also scanned to providealternative data that could be compared to the dataread by bar code scanners. This would later allow fullevaluation of the technologies used in this process.Each pallet was given an SSCC identifier which wasencoded on the pallet label as a 2-D Data Matrix code,GS1-128 barcode and onto an EPC Gen 2 standard UHFRFID tag.

Step 4Upon despatch, each pallet was scanned onto a vehicle,each of which was assigned a unique GS1 GRAI (GlobalReturnable Asset Identifier) code number that was alsoscanned so that all its contents were associated to it. Forthose pallets implanted with a GPS tracking device,their unique codes were linked to the EPCIS system viamobile tracking and read at regular intervals to checktheir progress which was recorded as part of the chainof custody process. Data was sent back to a centralserver for display on a map.

Step 5At each stage of the journey to the wholesaler, palletswere scanned as they were removed from one vehicleand scanned again as they were loaded onto the nextvehicle. This was carried out using mobile phones,loaded with decoding software that scanned the DataMatrix code and sent the data via SMS to an EPCISdatabase, so that each transaction or movement wasrecorded.

Step 6When the pallets reached the wholesaler they werescanned with a barcode scanner (and the data sent to

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the respective EPCIS database). Then each pallet wasmoved through an RFID portal, data from which wasstored separately to enable easy comparison betweenthe two methods.

Step 7Warehouse staff picked the required products fordelivery to Barts, scanning the products into a tote box,which was uniquely identified using a GRAI code. Thetote was labelled, bearing a Data Matrix code and anSSCC label applied on the folded lid to act as an anti-tamper device. As they were loaded for delivery, eachtote was again scanned.

Step 8Once at the hospital pharmacy, staff scanned the SSCCcode to record receipt of the goods and all contentswere checked against the tote manifest which wasgenerated from the EPCIS record.

Drawing positive conclusionsCurrently, all the data collected during the pilot is beingevaluated and key learnings are being developed.However, what is clear is that the pilot was an overallsuccess and that the technology required to implementfull international supply chain traceability systems isavailable today.

Good communication and collaboration betweentrading partners was vital to the success of this project.The use of open systems information standards with thehybrid environment of data carriers – GS1 Data Matrixand RFID – supported this by maximising systeminteroperability.

Coupling the 4-string data set with the EPCIS systemdelivered complete traceability. As each participant inthe supply chain recorded the movement of theproducts in and out of their custody, the data that wassent to their respective EPCIS databases formed thenecessary traceability information. Cumulatively, and ina live scenario, this could deliver significant efficienciesand reduce costs. Having the product code, serialnumber, batch number and expiry date aligned to theEPCIS system also supports future recall capabilities,inventory management and financial reconciliation,which will generate further process efficiencies.

In the context of Bridge project collaboration, thetraceability data collected has been shared with theBridge work packages, notably Work Packages 2/3(supply chain serialisation software) and Work Package5 (counterfeit product analysis) to supplement theirproject findings.

The real-world nature of the pilot of course highlightedissues that will require solutions prior to futureimplementations. For example, the complexity ofcoding and printing within the production lineenvironment requires meticulous planning. Packaging

design may have to take into consideration the spacerequired to print Data Matrix symbology. Staff trainingand robust intuitive applications will also play a crucialrole in the success of any traceability solutionimplementation.

Regardless of these concerns, traceability systems willhave an incredibly positive impact on improving patientsafety and reducing the scourge of counterfeit drugs.

For more information about this pilot and to access allthe reports pertaining to the BRIDGE project visit:www.bridge-project.eu/ or see www.bridgewp6.eu.

Or contact JJ Associates

Tel: +44 (0) 118 9034073Email: john.jenkins@jjassociates.com

www.domino-printing.com

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Interview with John Clark,Athlone Pharmaceuticals

Athlone Pharmaceuticals and its sister company,Kent Pharmaceuticals, were key participants in thePharma Traceability Pilot, part of the BRIDGE projectand co-funded by the EU. We spoke to John Clark,Commercial Director of Athlone Pharmaceuticals.

Kent Pharmaceuticals Limited (KPL), withheadquarters in Ashford, Kent, was establishedin 1986 by founder members, Denis O'Neill andMichael Overy, as a supplier of genericpharmaceuticals to pharmacy. Not content to actsimply as a supplier, in 1992 KPL purchasedAthlone Pharmaceuticals Ltd. This provided amanufacturing facility and today allows theproduction and supply of a range of penicillinbased products such as Amoxicillin, Ampicillin,Flucloxacillin and Penicillin tablets, capsules,sachets and syrups for the UK and Irish markets,as well as a number of export markets.

How did Athlone Pharmaceuticals/KentPharmaceuticals come to be involved in the BRIDGEproject?

Tony Walsh of Domino, an old friend, told me that theywere going to do a track and trace trial onpharmaceutical products and we got chatting. Theoriginal plan was to base the trial around brand(pharmaceutical) companies. I told him that, to besuccessful, the trial had to be able to work with genericmedicines as well as brands and that governmentswon’t buy into the idea unless generic companies canafford to implement the proposed coding, as genericmedicines have a 50% share of many European markets.In the early days they were talking about putting RFIDtags on individual packs but, as these costs 50p each,the cost would have been prohibitive, so it evolved intousing data matrix coding which is much moreappropriate from a generics’ perspective. The reason that we were interested is that, as a

manufacturer/supplier of generic medicines, thechallenge is always to be different. By definition, theproduct we make is the same as our competitors, so weare always looking for a marketing edge, be it inpackaging, an added benefit, or some other USP. Wesupply 30 companies in 30 countries around the worldand we were interested in seeing how we couldleverage the experience gained from participating inthis trial. In France, they are moving to data matrixcoding on all pharmaceuticals, not for track and trace,but for coding of price and product information. If wecould add this technology to our sales proposition andgovernments do decide to make coding a requirementin the future, then we could get a head start on thecompetition.

Track and trace of pharmaceuticals makes sense in termsof patient safety as well as anti-counterfeiting andsupply chain management and the technology is nowcapable of achieving it. Governments are always slow tomove but, at the moment, there is no alternative on thehorizon which is why there has been so much interest inthe BRIDGE project.

What demands did the traceability pilot make onAthlone Pharmaceuticals?

Athlone was not big enough to be the onlymanufacturer in the pilot, so I also spoke to colleaguesat Sandoz and Actavis, two of the biggest genericmanufacturers in the world, who were also keen to beinvolved. It was a challenge and a big learning curve forDomino who supplied all the hardware and softwareand our maintenance engineering team in Athlone whohad to put the kit onto the production line, laser coders,cameras, etc.The main problem was that it was always difficult to slotin the installation of equipment between productionruns. Because it couldn’t interfere with the normalproduction scheduling, it could only be done atweekends or in spare time. We had to be able to switchthe track & trace equipment on and off as required and

Athlone Pharmaceuticals manufacturing facility

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there were also some redesigns to packaging needed inorder to allow easier reading of the codes. The wholeprocess was quite time consuming.

For the traceability pilot, the way it worked was thatUnichem, the wholesaler in the UK, sent an order to KentPharmaceuticals who ordered product from Athlone.The order was made up of blister cartons and suspensionsof different molecules which were data matrix coded anddispatched in mixed pallets with RFID tags on the palletsfor delivery to Kent. These were then shipped on toUnichem who broke the pallets down and shipped therequired packs to Barts and the London hospitals.

What are the main learnings from the Traceabilitypilot?

There was a lot of trial and error with the equipment andrunning tests, which was to be expected. We never got in aposition to run packs down the line at full productionspeed but if track and trace became a requirement and wehad enough time to spend consistently on theprocess then I am confident that the technologywill deliver all the required results.The main learning was that data matrix codingrather than RFID is the right solution for packtraceability, primarily for cost reasons and the RFIDtechnology is not robust enough yet. RFID has aplace. It’s fine on pallet but not down at cartonlevel. I can’t see it getting to that stage for a longtime. Data matrix allows so much more informationto be stored than the standard bar code and barcode readers can easily be adapted to handle datamatrix codes so no new equipment is needed in thesupply chain, making it more cost effective foreveryone involved.

How do you see Track and Trace impacting onthe pharma industry?

Something has to happen. There is a lot ofgovernment focus on patient safety, quality of

medicines, fear of counterfeits.We can no longer sit aroundand do nothing. It’s not amatter of if something is goingto happen; it’s a matter ofwhen. The most obvious, themost robust and the most costeffective solution is theinclusion of data matrix codingon packs to enable fulltraceability through the supplychain. There are so manyreasons for implementing thissort of technology.The UK has spent a fortune ondeveloping electronic systemsfor prescribing and patient

records. If you could make a connection between theseand the medicines patients receive it makes sense forpatient safety reasons. The UK government and manyother governments are interested in the BRIDGE projectand are awaiting the findings of the traceability pilot. TheUK government has said that legislation is an option inthis area and they are keen to read the final report to seewhat can be done for the future. I expect the report tohave an impact on future policy in this area.

In Turkey, the government intends to implement datamatrix coding next year as part of a solution to stop a $1billion “black hole” in reimbursement fraud. They see it as acontrol mechanism to reduce prescription fraud as itenables the checking of the pack and price for everyproduct and every patient. France also wants it for codingand pricing. In Ireland, the HSE is currently looking at anumber of electronic prescribing and patient recordsystems and is due to make some announcements on thisshortly. It is clear that track and trace and the coding ofpacks would fit into the same area when they start lookingat products.

The manufacturing line at Athlone

Preparing BRIDGE trial packs

Bar code Verification

Ask yourself two simple questions......

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If yes, GS1 Ireland can help, if you need to get your bar code verified please contact Beatriz Gil Martin on 01 208-0660 or email beatriz.gilmartin@gs1ie.org

that its the responsibility of the ‘originator’ of the barcode, usually the brand owner of the product beingbar coded, to ensure that it meets the qualityrequirements of the entire supply chain.

Ensure thatyour bar codes scan first time, everytime!

Did you know....

Ireland's agri-food industry is the cornerstone of our economyand accounts for some 8% of GDP and a similar proportion oftotal employment, amounting to over 160,000 jobs. The industryalso accounts for a major proportion of exports of Irish-ownedenterprises and its products are sold in over 170 markets aroundthe world.2008 was a trying year for the Irish food industry. The pig farmingindustry is the 4th biggest sector in Irish agriculture. August of2008 saw an outbreak of salmonella in Ireland and across Europe.The outbreak involved over 140 cases, many of which werehospitalised and one associated death in the UK. In December we had the biggest recall to date in this countrywith the pork dioxin contamination scare. Authorities founddioxins in pork meat about 100 times the EU max level. Itdeveloped into a cash crisis at processing and producer levelsand diminished or closed markets internationally.In recent years, there have been a number of dioxincontamination incidents of food worldwide. In 1998 dioxin contaminated citrus pulp from Brazil was used infeed for dairy animals in France and resulted in contaminatedmilk. A year later in Belgium, dioxin laden machine oilcontaminated animal feed affecting poultry, eggs, red meat andmilk which caused a major food crisis.

The latest food scare came at a terrible time for Ireland, alreadyseverely hit by the global financial crisis, and just ahead ofChristmas, when families would be buying more ham and porkthan usual. This scandal of huge proportions has had devastatingaffects on Ireland’s reputation as a green and friendly foodproducing country. Tabloid newspapers ran headlines such as“Toxic Pork Alert” and “Hunt for the poison pork”. Short-termfinancial losses can be recouped but the damage that may havebeen done to Ireland’s reputation as a reliable and safe source ofquality product could be more longlasting.It has taken decades to build the country’s reputation in the agri-food production business and we have benefited from animmensely impressive standing in the world community for thesuperior quality and excellence of Irish food products.

Unfortunately, this latest scandal has unravelled years of workand investment. It will take time and even more investment towin back all of the export markets and market share. Irish pork isstill banned from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore,

South Africa and Russia.These countries accountfor over 10% of Irish Pigmeat exports. Irish Beefand Pig meat exportsamounted to €1.57billion and €368 millionrespectively in 2007, sothey are of criticalimportance to the IrishEconomy. Beef alonerepresents approx 18%of total Irish foodexports. While seriouseconomic losses resultedfrom the recall of all porkand pork products, theconsequences couldhave been far moredevastating if immediatemeasures were not takento remove contaminated products from the shelves and reducepotential exposure to harmful dioxins and risks to consumerhealth.

Traceability – 1 up, 1 downIt is estimated that approximately 10% of pig meat from theRepublic of Ireland was affected by contamination with dioxins.However, as all Irish pigs are slaughtered and processed in a smallnumber of plants, it was impossible to distinguish betweencontaminated and non-contaminated product. This resulted inthe immediate withdrawal of all pork products from the supplychain. Was this the right action? Could this have been donedifferently? Irish and European law requires all food and animal feedbusinesses to establish and implement a food traceability system.It is a legal requirement for businesses to trace one step forwardand one step back. This means food business owners must knowwho supplied them and where or to whom their product hasgone, however, there is no legal requirement for businesses tohave traceability systems which trace raw materials through thefactory and into finished product. GS1 has been at the forefront of product identification andtraceability solutions for the past 30 years. By using the GS1system a product recall for any reason can be a lot quicker, moreaccurate and much cheaper. Instead of a “knee jerk” reaction andwithdrawing all products from the market place, the GS1 systemallows you to uniquely identify the specific product, where it hasbeen and where it went. GS1 Ireland, through its traceability committee, is continuallyworking on new standards for traceability. To date, several casestudies have been conducted in Ireland, notably our Beeftraceability project in 2005 which tracked beef from point ofslaughter to the retail outlet (Farm to Fork). A copy of this casestudy is available on our website www.gs1ie.org. We arecurrently working with BIM & IASC on a Fresh Fish Traceabilityproject and work has also begun in the Irish Foodservice sector.

For further information please contact Barry Spellman;barry.spellman@gs1ie.org.

What areDioxins? Dioxins areenvironmentalcontaminants, oftenpresent inenvironmentalwaste. Most dioxinexposure occursthrough diet, withmore than 95%coming from theconsumption ofanimal fats. Long-term high-levelexposure to dioxinsmay cause cancer.However short termexposure does notresult in adversehealth effects.

Ireland – The Food IslandThe vital importance of food traceability

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The Dioxincontaminationscare led to the

total recall ofIrish PorkProducts

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The recently published Forfas report on international bestpractices highlights the fact that at the outset of theeGovernment era Ireland was recognised as a leader in thearea. Sadly, that did not continue and we now findourselves at the other end of the league table. Meanwhile,other countries, in particular Sweden and Denmark, havebeen successfully implementing electronic invoicing.Furthermore, the results have been impressive withsignificant financial savings and ROI. This is not surprisingas the business case for eCommerce has clearly beendemonstrated by the savings and efficiencies achieved bythe FMCG sector over the last 18 years. Our recent surveyshowed that the Irish grocery sector has close to 100%adoption of electronic invoicing based on GS1’s EANCOMmessage standards. Coupled with the GS1 XML messagestandards (compliant with UNECE XML) and the availabilityof low cost solutions, there has never been a better time toimplement EDI.

Following its pre-Budget 2008 submission to the Ministerfor Finance at the time Brian Cowen which resulted in cutsin the duty on credit, debit and ATM cards, GS1 again madea submission to the current Minister for Finance, BrianLenihan prior to last October’s Budget on improvingcompetitiveness in Ireland’s economy through theimplementation of electronic commerce.

In its submission GS1 stated its belief that, given thecurrent economic situation, Ireland needs to accelerate theuse of eCommerce technologies in order to achieveefficiencies in the Public and Private Sectors. Itrecommended to the Minister that the following initiativesshould be introduced in the Budget:

1. That Government issues a Statement of Intent toachieve complete e-Invoicing across all State entitiesby 2010, in line with the Government’s commitmentto meet the European Commission targets foreProcurement.

2. That a pilot e-Invoicing project be established todemonstrate the potential benefits and ease ofadoption of this already proven technology in use bythe Irish retail grocery sector formore than 18 years.

3. That Government sets out datesand strategies by which all Stateentities will be mandated toreceive all invoices for goods andservices in electronic format inorder to meet the 2010 target,based on the experience andlearnings from theaforementioned pilot project.

4. That Government establishes an appropriategovernance structure in all Departments and Stateentities in order to ensure compliance with theprogramme for electronic invoicing.

5. That Government encourages electronic transactionsthroughout the economy by removing theremaining stamp duties on credit and debit cardswith a corresponding increase in duties on cheques.

GS1 urged Government to signal its intent to positionIreland high on the international knowledge economyindex and to encourage the rapid adoption of electroniccommerce throughout the economy. The ForfaseGovernment International Best practices documentplaces Ireland in 22nd place for on-line availability tobusinesses. The report emphasises the fact thateGovernment has the capability to achieve higherproductivity in terms of reduced costs and more efficientadministrative procedures. The document also highlightsthe particularly progressive approach by Denmark in termsof an eGovernment framework in terms of leadership,customer-centricity and technology. In the January 2008Special Report no. 58 the Comptroller and Auditor statesthat eGovernment projects that cross organisationalboundaries present opportunities for more efficient andeffective delivery of government services.

In concluding its submission, GS1, as a not for profit,neutral organisation, urged the Minister to consider themove to eCommerce as an opportunity for a dramatic stepforward for the competitiveness of the Public Services andthe Irish economy as a whole.

GS1 Ireland stated its willingness to assist in such animportant task and that it is available to manage a Proof ofConcept pilot which will demonstrate the feasibility andcost/benefits of this technology.

The potential benefits of eGovernment have beenrecognised for some time but perhaps it will take thecurrent crisis to encourage the authorities to implementeCommerce.

eGovernment – a compelling case for our time

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Introduction:For a number of years the GS1 Ireland Solution Providerprogramme has helped solution providers stand out fromthe crowd through its online, and more recently, printedversion of the Solution Provider directories. Now GS1 haslaunched an Accreditation programme to help interestedsolution providers to go that extra mile and obtain the GS1Ireland ‘Seal of Approval’.

GS1 Ireland Solution Provider Programme:In 2004 GS1 Ireland launched its Solution Providerprogramme for solution providers who provide products,services and/or solutions that are based on the GS1 System& Standards. The GS1 Ireland Solution Provider Programmeis one of many schemes run by GS1 member organisationsacross the globe to forge better working relationshipsbetween our members, the users of the GS1 Standards,and Solution Providers.

Membership of the GS1 Ireland Solution ProviderProgramme gives solution providers an exceptional rangeof benefits such as:

1. Access to the latest information, expert knowledge andsupport from GS1

2. Opportunity to participate in Seminars, Conferencesand Pilot projects

3. Opportunity to advertise in the GS1 Ireland publication;The Global Standard (published 2 times per year)

4. Inclusion in both the hard and soft copies of theSolution Provider Directory which is accessed by over4,500 decision makers per year

5. Multiple membership levels; Alliance, Gold, Platinum,one to suit all pockets and engagement levels.

6. The opportunity to seek Accreditation from GS1 Ireland

All of this means that membership of the Solution ProviderProgramme offers exceptional value for money whilemaximising each Solution Provider’s level of exposure topotential customers and markets.

While GS1 Ireland is a neutral body and cannot prefer onesolution provider over another, every new member isdirected to the On-line Solution Provider Directory wherethey can source a provider to suit their needs.

Accreditation:The GS1 Ireland Solution Provider AccreditationProgramme was introduced in 2008 and piloted with ourPlatinum and Gold members. Codico Distributors and AtlasProducts Ireland became the first two Solution Providers tobe accredited.

2009 will see this important programme being madeavailable to solution providers at all membership levels. Sowhy, in these times of cost cutting, should a solutionprovider consider Accreditation? In a nutshell, the answerto this question is Competitive Advantage.

As competition intensifies solution providers will needsomething extra to make them stand out from the crowd.That something is GS1 Accreditation.

So what is it and how does it work? The GS1 Ireland Solution Provider AccreditationProgramme is a 2-year award that is available to allmembers of the GS1 Solution Provider Programme. Thecost of Accreditation is included in the membership ofboth the Gold and Platinum levels. Alliance members canapply for Accreditation at an extra cost to their annualmembership.

The Accreditation Programme aims to:• Foster awareness and understanding of the GS1

standards within the GS1 System.• Achieve consistency in the implementation of the GS1

Standards by the members of GS1 Ireland.• Avoid product and project failures arising from failure

to comply with the GS1 Standards.

Applicants can seek accreditation in one of four areas:• Bar codes• eCommerce• Data Pool• RFID

This enables solution providers to really focus on their corebusiness and to be awarded the Accreditation for that.

Benefits of Accreditation:• Enhances your competency, authority and credibility in

the application of GS1 Standards.• Sets you apart from your competitors in the

marketplace and give you top ranking profile in theGS1 Ireland Solution Provider Directories (both On-lineand Hard Copy).

• Use of the GS1 Ireland Accredited Solution ProviderCertificate and Logo

If you would like further information on becoming eithera member of the Solution Provider Programme or anAccredited Solution Provider please contact DenisColeman on (01) 2080672 or e-maildenis.coleman@gs1ie.org

GS1 Ireland Solution Provider Accreditation –The GS1 ‘Seal of Approval’

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Pictured at the presentation of the awards are:Mr. Noel Cooney (Group Sales Director, Codico Distributors Limited) and Mr. Cliff Bond (MD, Codico Distributors Limited), Mr. JimBracken (CEO, GS1 Ireland), Mr Greg Magrane (Country Manager, Atlas Products Ireland) and Mr. Allan W. Gray (MD, Atlas ProductsInternational)

Accreditation AwardGS1 Ireland is delighted to announce that CodicoDistributors Limited and Atlas Products Ireland havebecome the first solution providers to be awardedAccreditation. Both companies undertook stafftraining, provided case studies demonstrating theirapplication of GS1 Standards, and were assessed byGS1 Ireland before being issued with the award.

Codico Distributors Limited were accredited for theirbar code solutions.. The company has been a veryactive member of the GS1 Solution Providerprogramme for a number of years. Commenting onthe award Cliff Bond (MD, Codico Distributors) said

“For Codico Distributors Ltd, being awarded theGS1 Bar code Accreditation award opens up anew world in the support of our customers andputs us in a position to assist any queries wereceive on Bar coding, Data Matrix and DataBar.We know we will now be able to assist GS1 intheir goal of bringing standards to all industrysectors on a global basis."

Atlas Products Ireland has been awarded Accreditationin the field of eCommerce. The company is one of thenewer members of the Solution Provider programmeas well as a new entrant into the Irish market.Commenting on the award Allan W Gray (MD, AtlasProducts International) said

“This award is gratefully received and is awonderful recognition of Atlas’ efforts and beliefin promoting and using GS1 standards for EDI inIreland and worldwide. We are very privileged towork with the GS1 Ireland team who havehelped and guided Atlas Ireland over the pasttwo years.”

The presentation of the awardstook place at the GS1 Irelandoffices in January.

ACCREDITED Solution Provider

Congratulations to

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EPCglobal - Enabling Unique Identification and Visibility

EPC/RFID will help to transformyour supply chain performance inthe future, says President ofEPCglobal IncMore than 50 Irish Business leaders attended the recentGS1 Ireland Breakfast Seminar/Master Class at The RoyalCollege Of Physicians of Ireland in Dublin. The Master Classwas given by Chris Adcock, President of EPCglobal Inc, theglobal organisation leading the drive to create commonstandards for the use of the Electronic Product Code (EPC)and which is part of GS1. EPCglobal’s mission is to take aglobal leadership role in developing and promoting multi-industry, user-driven standards for RFID-basedidentification.

Opening the seminar, Jim Bracken, CEO of GS1 Ireland,highlighted the exciting developments taking place in thedeployment of RFID technology throughout the world andstated that it wasn’t a question of ‘if RFID will becomewidely deployed in Ireland but rather when, why andwhere’.

Chris Adcock opened his presentation with an overview ofEPCglobal and its founding principles. To date, EPCglobalmembership is 1,479 companies in 42 countries, spread

across 17 key industryactivities.Chris explained whyGlobal Standards areimportant – they reducecomplexity and cost, theyallow organisations tofocus more on how touse the informationrather than how to getinformation and havingcertified standards drivesconfidence.

Chris highlighted the growing problem of counterfeitgoods and how efforts to combat this can be greatlyenhanced by leveraging the EPC standards. He alsopresented a number of case studies involving companiessuch as Wal-Mart, Metro, DHL, Lockheed Martin andJohnson and Johnson, in each case demonstrating howimplementing EPCglobal standards delivered real benefitsin inventory and stock management and a range of otherbusiness benefits.

In conclusion, Chris stated that EPCglobal and GS1standards are enabling a level of visibility not previouslyavailable and the practical reality will be the integration ofmultiple EPCglobal/GS1 standards across complex supplychains - “Its all about visibility. There are challenges butalso a vast world of opportunity.”

GS1 Spain presents revolutionaryinteractive shopping cartWith the goal of improving efficiency within the supplychain and retail business, GS1 Spain presented for thefirst time in Spain the Grocer, an “intelligent” shoppingcart developed with European funds. This radiofrequency identification equipment, under the EPCstandard, can provide the consumer with an authentic“shopping experience”.

The cart is equipped with an RFID reader, an antenna anda touch-screen that allows the consumer to interact withthe system sending and receiving information.

Advantages for consumers and companiesOn one hand, the consumer can always know the exactprice of the product that they have placed inside the

cart, as well as, the total cost of the purchase, receiveinformation about promotions, access to receipts and alist of the needed ingredients for a particular recipe, orjust to find the fastest way inside the shop to theselected product.

On the other hand,Grocer allowscompanies to offermore informationand a much morecustomised serviceto the consumer,inventoryoptimisation, a moreeffective marketingstrategy and increaseconsumer loyalty.

Chris Adcock speaking at the Seminar

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15

European Pallet Associationfinalised first phase of EPC/RFIDPilot Programme

GS1 in Europe, a collaboration of 44 European GS1member organisations, announced the successfulcompletion of the first phase of the EPAL EPC/RFID PilotProgramme. The European Pallet Association hasrecognised significant opportunities to improve supplychain efficiency, asset visibility and security initiatives.More specifically, EPAL is looking at possibilities to improvethe control of production and repair of EURO pallets, toauthenticate individual pallets, to reduce the number ofcounterfeit pallets, to streamline the administration andinformation exchange of users in the pool as well as toopen new possibilities in the supply chain management.

There are currently over 500 Million wooden EURO palletsin circulation. Under the control and license of EPAL, morethan 60 million new pallets are produced per year by morethan 400 producers in 30 countries and there are over1.000 repair centres worldwide. The parties interested inquality approved EURO pallets include producers, dealers,repairers, users, railways as well as transporters.

The objective of the EPAL EPC/RFID Pilot Programme wasto develop a business plan to clarify the integration of RFIDtags in EPAL wooden pallets and specify a correspondingnetwork as well as to reveal the necessary informationabout the technical and organisational implementation. AllGS1 EPCglobal standards were involved including Gen2tags, EPCIS and the ONS. The Pilot Programme started inJuly 2008 and was recently completed. “We are verysatisfied with the results of the Pilot Programme. TheEPC/RFID technology, the tag concept and the ITinfrastructure have been approved and seen as a verygood solution for EPAL. The second phase of the projectwill answer all the remaining questions and will help us toprepare a roll-out.” said Harry Jacobi, CEO of EPAL.

The successful completion of the EPAL EPC/RFID PilotProgramme triggered the launch of a second phase andpre-roll out of the Programme in 2009.

For more information, please visithttp://www.gs1.eu/epal

German soap factory benefitsfrom EPC/RFID PROZEUS, a not-for-profit initiative run by GS1Germany and IW Consult and sponsored by theGerman Federal Ministry of Economics andTechnology, is providing comprehensive informationmaterials in order to educate decision-makers aboute-business topics, and encourage them to take anactive role in e-business implementation.

Within the framework of this initiative, a consultingproject started in January 2008 with ALGI, a medium-sized German enterprise which specialises in theproduction of cosmetic products, especially soaps,body lotions, shampoos and gift sets.

The objective of the project is to get more visibilitywithin the internal processes, starting at the point ofgoods receipt where all pallets get equipped andidentified with EPC/RFID transponders beforestocking them into the warehouse.

ALGI's logistics systems are quite suitable for enablingpaperless identification and documentation ofincoming goods, providing process efficiency andvisibility. Each single pallet can be clearly identifiedthrough the usage of EPC/RFID technology.

Furthermore all yards in the warehouse were flaggedwith labels offering ALGI a quick and simple take outof goods by scanning the warehouse yards.

In addition, all articles and products are gettingspecified with the classification standard eCl@ss. Thebenefit for ALGI describing products with the help ofeCl@ss is to have standardised product descriptionshelping them to get more clarity and reliabilityduring the production process.

“With the implementation of “EPC/RFID and theadditional usage of eCl@ss, we are able to improveour internal process flow. All articles, vendor partsand own products can be easily identified andclassified. That leads to an optimised internal materialflow and communication process with externalpartners as well”, said Matthias Färber, CEO of ALGISeifenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG.

More information about PROZEUS can be obtainedby contacting Tim Bartram at bartram@gs1-germany.de.

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EPC / RFID in high fashion in Sweden

Menswear store Taracci in the Forum Nacka shoppingmall on the outskirts of Stockholm is the first retailoutlet in Sweden to use RFID/EPC.Customers only need to put their bags of goods onthe counter and payment is made in a moment. Butthe big advantage for the store is all the time-consuming administrative work which disappears.The company's estimate is that their investment inRFID/EPC has a payback period of less than one year. When a customer is ready to pay for an item atTaracci and places it on the counter, it isautomatically scanned by an RFID reader under thecounter which can read RFID tags at a distance of upto two metres. A customer buying several items getshelp from the staff to pack them in a bag. Theassistant only needs to press a button on the cashregister screen and all items are rung up and thecustomer can pay. Many customers are amazed,scratch their heads and ask "how did you do that?""Our RFID system makes customer payments muchfaster than a regular cash register, but this is not themost important reason for our investment in RFID.The idea is to have everything under control in orderto make the administrative work simpler and moreefficient," says Mats Tornard, part-owner of Taracci.

Small production volumes

As well as the store in Forum Nacka, Taracci AB has afurther three stores, one in downtown Stockholmand two in Brussels. The company has three owners:Feyo Taracci, Mats Tornard and Jens Fleischanderl,who runs the Forum Nacka store. Feyo Taracci isresponsible for the collection. He has a backgroundas a third-generation tailor. Production is mainly inItaly and Turkey. The company’s business concept isto offer customers high-quality at reasonable prices."Our hope is that those who wear the clothes should

feel well-dressed without being dressed up," saysMats Tornard. We only get raw materials from thebest suppliers and use small tailors who make jacketsand shirts in small volumes. For example, Taracci'svarious styles of shirts are produced with a maximumof 20 items."In the downtown store there was previously acompletely mechanical manual cash register withouteven a barcode reader. Traditional price tags werestuck on the clothes.

RFID part of the image

"When we planned the store in Forum Nacka, we hada choice of investing in a conventional checkoutsystem or an RFID system. One reason we chose RFIDis that we didn't just want to appear innovativewithout clothes, but in everything else, too." Thestore in Forum Nacka was opened on 23 October2008, the same day as the shopping mall opened.Subsequently the RFID/EPC system has beeninstalled in the downtown store. The company'scontractor for RFID is RFID Constructors AB."The checkout system itself is a standard productwhich has been modified to get information onarticle numbers and each item’s identity from theRFID reader," says Mats Tornard.

Counts 2000 items in five minutes

One of the big gains with an RFID solution is that aninventory can be taken simply and quickly and that'smuch more often than previously. This allows thestore to rapidly solve various problems, for exampleupdate the stock balance. The risk of missing a salebecause an item is out of stock is reduced. There arebetween 1500 and 2000 individual items in the storeat any one time and these all have to be countedwhen doing an inventory. "Previously, in thedowntown store, we counted everything manuallyand used pencil and paper for inventories. That wayit would take a whole day to inventory this store. Andthere's a big risk of getting it wrong. Now aninventory takes five minutes at the most -- and therisk of error is minimal. We make a circuit of the storeusing a handheld computer with an RFID reader. Wedon't even need to see the items, they get scannedanyway.

Weekly inventories

"Our ambition is to take an iinventory every week.Previously we did it once a year, which is the legalminimum." By installing RFID readers in all theshelves it would be possible to automatically take aninventory of the whole store. "But we won't be doingthat in these tiny premises of 70 m2. Here our

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handheld computer works just fine." The RFID/EPCsystem also greatly improves the management ofdeliveries.

Reduced tied-up capital

"The stock level in the store can be reduced, whichsaves a good deal. The stock value in the store isbetween SEK 400,000 and 800,000, depending onthe season. We reckoned to be able to reduce tiedup capital by at least 20%. Over time we can get itdown even further." The company hopes to set upa separate central warehouse for all stores.Currently, stock is held at the downtown store."We can pack a consignment and quickly scan it.This checks that it is correct. If it isn't, we canquickly fix it. It's easy to reconcile what we sendwith what we stand at the receiving store. "It’s alsoeasy to send an item downtown from this store if itis needed. To make a delivery with just a singlepress of a button we put the item in a box andscan it with a handheld computer. The stockbalance in the store is then updated. The RFIDsystem saves us time and money at every stage."When a carton of new items arrives at the storethe contents can be scanned without evenopening the box. Previously every item had to betaken out of the box and counted by style, sizeand colour.

Surveillance thrown in

The RFID system also works as a theft alarm. "Weare also installing an alarm which automaticallychecks if the item has been paid for. If it hasn't, thealarm sounds. Since we don't need to install aconventional surveillance system, we save a lot ofmoney." The company estimates that its RFID/EPCinvestment has a payback period of less than oneyear. "Of course, RFID is more expensive than atraditional checkout system, but the difference isnot that dramatic. The advantages of RFID meanthat the technology is well worth the extra cost.Tags only cost a few crowns each. As morecompanies start to use them they'll become evencheaper."There are plans to extend the use of the RFID/EPCsystem in several ways. One example is to give thecustomer detailed information in the fitting roomby installing an RFID reader behind the mirrorwhich has an integrated display. "When thecustomer stands in front of the mirror and tries ona shirt the display will automatically show where itwas made, what it's made of, what other coloursare available, similar styles, and so on." This sort offunctionality can also be used to analyse customerbehaviour and choices. "An RFID reader in the

fitting room could gather statistics on which itemscustomers try on and which they buy. Maybe theytry on some which they don't buy. We also find outwhich clothes never make it to the fitting room.This helps us create a collection which is evenmore appreciated by our customers.

Helps expansion

One factor for the investment in RFID was thecompany's plans to continue expanding. "Wehope to be able to continue opening new stores.Our intention is that all new stores will use theRFID system. This store will be the model for all ournew stores so we won't have to reinvent thewheel. We use GS1 standards to make sure that wedon't get locked into a home-made solution."Mats Tornard thinks that it is exciting to be apioneer with RFID/EPC. "Now we are tuning thesystem and handling the challenges that pop up.The RFID/EPC solution has such enormouspotential. It will help us in many ways that wehaven't even thought of yet. We will be well in thelead when our competitors start using thetechnology -- but I guess it won't be too long," saysMats Tornard.

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Professional Services from GS1 Ireland Discover your Supply Chain’s Potential

For over 30 years the GS1 organisation hasbeen developing new services and standardsthat have given member companies greatervisibility and control over their supply chains.In 2009, GS1 Ireland announces a new servicewhich is specifically designed to assistmembers to achieve even greater financialbenefits through significant improvements intheir operational efficiency.

It is still the case that many companies whohave joined GS1 Ireland over the years havenot extended their use of the GS1 System toimprove their internal processes.Consequently, they have not realised theadditional benefits in terms of cost savings andimproved service to their customers. It is ratherlike a person buying a top of the range cameraand using it as a ‘point and shoot’ productwithout ever taking the time to discover all ofthe other functionality that it can provide.

Recent incidents have demonstrated the lackof knowledge that exists within organisationsin relation to the correct use of the GS1 system.The total product recall of Irish Pork productsin November 2008 was the result of an inabilityto easily track the affected products (a mere 5-6% of the total product on the market at thattime). This incident followed an earlier issueinvolving pork ingredients used in the foodservice sector. Last year also two entirelydifferent medicines were found to have thesame bar code number, which could havecaused serious harm to patients.

Furthermore in the present economicenvironment improvements incompetitiveness are critical for the survival ofevery business. Cost reduction and greaterefficiency is possible through the deploymentof GS1 standards based solutions.

As the independent body responsible for thedevelopment and implementation ofAutomatic Identification and Data Capture(AIDC) and traceability standards GS1 Ireland islaunching its new Professional Servicesoffering in order to help Irish companiesaddress such issues.

• Business Consulting: Our Professional ServicesTeam will undertake a thorough analysis of yourcurrent data, systems and processes.

• Solution Consulting: Whatever yourrequirements, we will offer the most effectivesolutions based on GS1 Open Global standards.Our areas of expertise include:- Product, people and location identification- Improve Data Accuracy- Supply Chain Visibility- Product Tracking- Inventory Management

• Standards Compliance: We will ensure that bestpractices are in place and that all technicalsolutions deployed are compliant with GS1 globalstandards.

• Project Management: We will take a leading rolein the project and implement any system ortechnology needed. Engaging directly with yoursuppliers we can ensure that their systems arecompliant with our standards, provide them withbespoke training, and/or implementationassistance.

• Training: We offer tailor-made training courses tomeet your specific needs. Our courses can also bedelivered on-site at your premises.

• Bar code Verification: Retailers are increasinglyintolerant of products that cause scanning errors.Our Bar Code Verification service saves you time,money and helps you build a stronger, moreprofitable relationship with your trading partners.This service can be delivered on-site at yourpremises.

GS1 Ireland Professional Services

Both of the Discovery processes will generate a businesscase based on 4 key areas:

1. Data2. Processes3. Resources4. Technology

Using these headings the professional services team willbe able to conduct their assessment of the currentprocesses and carry out a GAP analysis. Depending on thepackage selected, they will then either generate a report(Discovery LITE) or develop a plan to address the issues(Full Discovery)

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Further information:

If you would like further information aboutGS1 Professional Services please contact theGS1 Ireland Professional Services Team on +353 1 208 0660.

• Protecting and future-proofing your investment byremoving the limitations of closed, proprietarysystems and solutions

• Ensuring interoperability and system-to-systeminteraction with your trading partners

• Effective solutions based on global best practices

• Increase visibility across the Supply Chain

• Greater inventory control

• Removal of cost from supply chain operations

• Better Logistics management and increasedproductivity

• Improved traceability in compliance withlegislation

• Improved relationships with trading partners

• Faster order to cash cycle

Benefits of the New Service:

GS1 Ireland Discovery

There are two packages available to help companiesidentify and address supply chain issues. GS1 IrelandProfessional Services uses a methodology calledDiscovery.

• Discovery LITE. Find out what your business couldgain from the implementation of the GS1 system.Discovery Lite offers a fast, simple, and affordablesolution. - Short survey type service – “health check of

current processes”- Typically 1-2 days

• Full Discovery. Full Discovery identifies and mapsyour current processes based on your supply chainobjectives, provides recommendations and presents amanageable plan to ensure the GS1 system will workeffectively for your business.- Detailed survey and analysis of current situation- Typically 15 days- Full project management

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GS1 Mobile Com Group recommends barcodesfor mobile applications to promote earlydevelopment, piloting and standardisation

This position paper aims to give manufacturers, retailersand other existing users of the GS1 system guidance onwhat barcodes they should consider for mobile phoneapplications.Because of the multitude of possible barcode formatsavailable, many of them proprietary, the GS1 Mobile Comgroup recommends using only barcodes that meet thefollowing criteria:• Approved by ISO and therefore public domain status

declared• Approved by GS1• Open standards (royalty free use, no patent exercised)• Proven implementation (mobile or non-mobile)• Can be read by a consumer-available mobile device

GS1 recommendationsAs a consequence, the GS1 Mobile Com grouprecommends using only the following barcodes:• GS1 EAN/UPC. The 1D barcode used on all millions of

consumer products worldwide.• GS1 DataMatrix. 2D barcode currently implemented in

numerous sectors including automotive and healthcaredirect part marking.

• Quick Response (QR) code. 2D barcode well-known inJapan and East Asia for mobile applications. Currently,QR code is not a GS1 standard. However since the GS1carrier policy change in May 2008, it can be submitted toGS1 for approval.

The GS1 Mobile Com group also recommends that thesebarcodes support both GS1 identification keys (uniquenumbers to identify products, locations and more) and GS1application identifiers to ensure backward and forwardcompatibility with other barcode application requirements.

Future perspectivesFor the future, the GS1 Mobile Com group is working forGS1 DataBar (a higher capacity 1D barcode to be adoptedby 1 January 2010) and Electronic Product Code (EPC)compliant Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to beread by consumer-available mobile devices. The GS1 Mobile

Com group has established a sub-group to work ona clear position relative to Near FieldCommunication (NFC).

Goal of this recommendationThe goal of this recommendation is to helpcompanies innovate and test new applications formobile commerce. Simplifying the options availableto companies will stimulate growth in this area andclear a path towards more cost-effective mobileapplications. Beyond the short-term, companies willbe able to built interoperable and scalable systemsand ensure consistent consumer experience acrossdevices and markets. This position paper does notreplace the GS1 standardisation process and theGS1 Mobile Com group is actively moving forwardstandardisation in this area.

Questions / comments / reactions?Contact Joe Horwood at joe.horwood@gs1.org.

About GS1 Mobile ComGS1 Mobile Com is an industry-wide initiative toenable businesses to give consumers access toproduct information via their mobile phones. Theobjective is to provide a simple way for consumersand businesses to interact based on an openinfrastructure and open standards.

GS1 Mobile Com White PaperPublished in February 2008, “Mobile Commerce –opportunities and challenges” is a White Paper thanseeks to demonstrate the reality of mobile

A typical EAN-13 barcode

A typical GS1 DataMatrix barcode

A typical QR Code

commerce for businesses and consumers alike andthe need for GS1 to contribute in a neutral way toestablish relevant global standards for the benefit ofall stakeholders. It covers the following areas:• Mobile Commerce Overview: why mobile is

changing the way business happens• Business Applications: what use cases are

possible with GS1 standards and how• Technical Environment: building blocks for

mobile commerce

The White Paper is available for download fromwww.gs1.org/mobile/.

Extended PackagingThe main project of GS1 Mobile Com for 2008 –2009 is Extended Packaging -allowing consumersaccess additional information about productsthrough their mobile phone. Extended Packagingwas chosen from the six main business applicationspresented in the White Paper as being the simplest,most fundamental use case on which otherapplications (such as Mobile Couponing) can bebuilt. The workgroup aims a piloting framework andguidelines on how to implement ExtendedPackaging.

GS1 Mobile Com GroupAside from Extended Packaging, the Mobile Comgroup is working on the following activities:• ID & Data Carrier: GS1 standards are used for

mobile enabled 1D and 2D barcodes and forRFID

• Handsets/Operators: All handsets worldwide readGS1 barcodes and EPCglobal RFID tags

• Information Pools / Providers / Hubs / Messaging:GS1 Data Pools and messaging standards areleveraged to the maximum for productinformation

• In-store / Point-of-sale (POS): In-store servicesand POS systems are able to read GS1 barcodesand EPCglobal RFID tags from mobile phones

• Payment: Mobile payment providers are awarethat GS1 standards exist and can be used

• Consumer behaviour: Get consumer insight togroup

• PR / external communication / education:Communicate effectively about activities ofgroup

Find out more and get involved!If you would like more information or to join thecurrent GS1 Mobile Com Group, go tohttp://www.gs1.org/mobile/.

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New Members

Abbey Oils Solutions

Advanced Eco Fire Ireland Ltd

Aerogen Ltd

Agri Bio Fuel Ireland Ltd

Albert Peppers Ltd

All Products Ltd

All Things nice Ltd

Bag Passport

Bagaholics

Ballymaguire Foods Ltd

Beirnes Bins Elphin Ltd

Brilliant Gifts Ltd

Butler Technologies

Champion Hurleys Ltd

CJ Sheeran Limited

Cup cakes home baking

Dairyland Carlow

Dalcassian Wines & Spirits Ltd

Dartrey Spring

Davitt Food Distributors Ltd

Devaneys Dinners

DF Sports and Leisure Ltd

Dia Duit Cards

Drumeel Farm

DSG Packaging Ltd

East Coast Supplies Ltd

Elephant Brands International Ltd

ElfoTec Technology Ltd

Euro Deli Ireland Ltd

Food Surplus Management ltd

ForeCourt Supplies Ltd

Garrymore Farm ltd

Gerry Donohue Wholesale

Gift and Home

GolfBuddy Europe Ltd

Green Energy Recycling Ltd

Green Safron Spices Ltd

Griffins Potatoes

Haribo Ireland Ltd

IQ Brands Ltd

Irish Breeze Limited

Irish Casing Company Ltd

J E O'Brien & Sons

J.O.D food Products

Kavanagh Meats Ltd

Kerins Foods

King Puck Ltd

Kit 4 Kitchen

Leopards Leap Wines Pty Ltd

Liam Carroll Group

Libe're' records

Lorcan O'Brien

Lynn Publications

M & M Walshe Ltd

M.Morgan & Sons

Marine Harvest Ireland

MicroWarehouse Ltd

Midland Bandages Ltd

Midland Geeting Cards Ltd

Milky Dream Farmhouse Ice-Cream

Missionaries of the Sacred Heart

Mitchells Golf Ltd

Monument HSE Mallow Ltd

Munster Mushrooms

Noel Recruitment

Obego Ltd

O'Herlihys Bacon Ltd

Oilean Glas Teo

Organic Tea Leaf Ltd

Organic Worx Ltd

P.P.C (Galway)Ltd

Patisserie Regale

PDMR Ltd

Ponaire Ltd

Posh Nosh Catering Co Ltd

Progressive Surgical

Reflex IS

Romarox Limited

Rossmore Farmhouse IceCream

Ryans Arbutus breads Ltd

Salon Trichology

SCAR Records Ltd

Sentinel Fuel Products

Skeaghanore West Cork Duck

Slowey Systems

Smart Transfer Ltd

Snap Printing Fairview

South Tipperary General Hospital

Stephen Reid Distribution

Swallow Foods International Ltd

Swan Fruit Ltd

Technisport

The City Bin Co Ltd

The Logic Group Enterprises Ltd

Timothy Lavin

Titetug Ltd

Tom Ward

Tony Butler Meats

Tony Kieran Ltd

Truly Irish Country Foods Ltd

Uppercross Enterprises Ltd

USCI Ireland

Veg-e-Que

Venice Jewellery

VK Distribution Ltd

Waste Recovery Services ( Fermoy)

Wincor Nixdorf Ireland Ltd

World Beers Ltd

Wrights of Marino Manufacturing Ltd

XM Solutions

Yum Catering Ltd

GS1 Ireland would like to welcome the following as NewMembers of the organisation

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Did you know?All our In-company courses are tailored tomeet your specific organisational needs. Tell us what you need to know and we willdeliver.

Did you know?We provide training in the following sectors

Grocery• Foodservice• Freshfood• Convenience stores

Agriculture • Biofuels• Farming• Cultivation • Gardening

Healthcare• Pharmaceutical for both

human and Animal• Medical Devices• Retail healthcare

DIY Hardware

Government/Public

For all course enquires, includingdetails of in-company training oreLearning please contact

Adreena on 01 208 0671or send an email to

training@gs1ie.org

Training Dates for your Diary

GS1 Identification keys – BarcodingMarch 12th CorkApril 28th DublinMay 14th DublinJuly 7th DublinSeptember 29th DublinOctober 13th DublinNovember 19th Dublin

EDIMay 20th & 21stOctober 20th & 21st

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Check outour NewWebsite The GS1 Ireland website has recentlyundergone a facelift. We have improved all ofthe key features of the website. Recentnewsletters, case studies and articles ofinterest can now be easily downloaded.

Our online Solution Provider Directory hasbeen improved so you can easily find themost suitable business partners for yourcompany.

A new user profile enables you to manageyour preferences, interest options and contactdetails as well as view member only content.

www.gs1ie.org