North America

United States and Canadian government agencies recognise that the GS1 system, which is created by industry, for industry, creates effective business processes that enable regulatory compliance and adoption.

Trade facilitation, health care, food safety, product identification and supply chain management are a few key areas where GS1 has partnered with a variety of federal agencies to implement standards.

Key GS1 projects underway in North America include:

Trade and Customs: ITDS Pilots

Goal: Foster safer and more efficient cross border trade

GS1 is working side-by-side with the U.S. International Trade Data System (ITDS) Product Information Committee to explore how the use of global e-commerce standards – as part of a rigorous IT strategy – can improve product visibility across borders, improve consumer security—and deliver significant cost savings to industry, government, national regulators, and customers alike.

After successfully completing initial pilots, in February 2014 the Administration issued Executive Order 13659 to streamline the Export/Import Process for America's businesses and required ITDS implementation by December 2016.

Healthcare: Unique Device Identification (UDI) and Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCA)

Goal: Improve patient safety

The Unique Device Identification (UDI) system is designed to uniquely identify medical devices from production through distribution and use. GS1, as a leading global standards organisation, is a U.S. FDA-Accredited Issuing Agency for unique device identifiers (UDIs). Global GS1 Standards are authorised for use by all manufacturers selling medical devices in the U.S. to address requirements of the new FDA UDI regulation. GS1 US and more than 100 other GS1 member organisations in their respective countries, assist companies in meeting UDI requirements with proven product identification and barcoding standards used by over 2 million companies worldwide.

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), also known as drug "track and trace", is a new federal law in the U.S. that aims to facilitate the exchange of information to enable verification and authentication of drugs in the supply chain.

GS1 US provides tools, resources, education, and community groups to help companies address FDA UDI and DSCSA requirements using GS1 standards. For more information, including FDA UDI and DSCSA guidelines to support implementation of GS1 standards, please visit:

http://www.gs1us.org/industries/healthcare/gs1-healthcare-us-initiative

Food Safety: Traceability

Goal: Consumer health and safety

Increasing consumer confidence in food safety is a collaborative effort amongst businesses, trade associations, industry groups and regulatory agencies. GS1 US works with all of these stakeholders to enable product traceability and food safety leveraging GS1 standards.

GS1 U.S. has worked with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to increase awareness on the role product traceability standards can play in achieving the goals of the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA).

For more information, please visit: http://www.gs1us.org/industries/foodservice/food-safety

Supply Chain Management: Cash Management

Goal: Bring transparency to cash logistics

GS1 US is partnering with the Federal Reserve and the financial services community to develop and adopt data standards and best practices for cash logistics affecting intensive cash users and businesses. Through this effort, a new level of Cash Visibility will enable:

• Improved data accuracy with reduced manual data entry
• Faster resolution of discrepancies between origin and destination
• Value-added information on status and value of cash in transit across a merchant’s footprint
• Potential real-time access to cash parcel movement status
• Automated custody vs. manual paper-based

For more information, please visit: https://www.gs1us.org/documents?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=664