Barcode supplier GS1 New Zealand is encouraging companies in the food and grocery sector to register for ProductRecall^nz, an online service for rapid recall or withdrawal of products in consumer supply chains.

ProductRecall^nz enables companies to send and receive recall or withdrawal notices with greater efficiency than current practices. The service helps manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and others manage consumer safety and other business-related risks when a recall or withdrawal becomes necessary.

Regulatory advice for the service was provided by the Ministry for Primary Industries –  the regulatory body that oversees food product recalls and withdrawals in New Zealand.

Companies must be registered in order to use ProductRecall^nz and must be full members of GS1 NZ. The service was announced several weeks ago and, since then, 16 major suppliers, such as Cadbury, Fonterra, Nestlé, and Goodman Fielder, have already registered.

While the service promises confidentiality, there appears to be some industry hesitancy concerned in protecting proprietor information.

Companies that register prior to the official 23 July launch will have immediate access to the service; those registering after 23 July will have an eight-week stand-down period.

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