Companies today are facing stringent expectations around product safety. They are expected to satisfy increasing industry requirements and consumer demand for more—and better—product information in today’s omni-channel, connected retail world. At the same time, businesses that can get their product on shelf faster, reduce logistics costs and build better trading partner and customer relationships, have a competitive advantage in today’s marketplace.

At the heart of this issue is the ability to accurately identify, capture, and share information about products people buy—by all stakeholders across all points of the supply chain. To be useful, data must be recorded in a “common language,” (by using GS1 Standards) and synchronized to allow companies and their trading partners to share product information and automate processes.

GS1 US is actively working with the general merchandise industry to address supply chain challenges and utilize standards-based solutions to combat counterfeits, remove unsafe products from shelves, empower consumers to know more about the products they buy, and protect brand integrity. We provide guidance on how standards can play a role in harmonizing local regulatory requirements in various parts of the world.

Using standards to manage product safety information
GS1 US has worked side-by-side with members of the International Trade Data System’s Product Information Committee on pilot studies to validate the business case for using ecommerce data to manage product admission at the borders.

The goal: improve product visibility and, ultimately, ensure product safety in categories including toys and games—which encompasses more than 850,000 products with a declared value of $14.5 billion imported into the U.S. in 2010.

The pilot showed that the use of GS1 Standards did help improve information visibility, which will help the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reduce consumers’ exposure to health and safety hazards in products. And, new efficiencies could save toy importers and brand owners save an estimated $16.8 million over five years, plus $775,000 in savings for the CPSC. Similar savings could be possible in other categories.

For more information: www.itds.gov. 

Partner Connections Program
Through the GS1 US Partner Connections program, companies establish their GS1 Company Prefix, can access educational resources and receive exclusive discounts.