Supply chain organization GS1 and the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India have developed an Internet/mobile-phone-linked system for alerts and product recalls for the food and pharma industries.
The system draws on barcodes, electronic business messaging and RFID technology to transfer data for chain-wide product tracking. Developers say the technologies combined will help standardize alerts and recalls across a common platform for consumers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and their suppliers.
The system can identify, trace and inform consumers about contaminated products, the partners say. It also can be used to issue public notices that a recall has ended.
The Economic Times of India reports that implementation may prove challenging given that mobile and Internet connectivity in India is still realizing its potential.
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