The Hindu Business Line : Cos gear up to affix RFID tags

WITH suppliers to global retailers such as Wal-Mart, Tesco, Metro and Albertsons mandated to affix Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags from January 1, 2005, companies including Ranbaxy Laboratories are already gearing up to affix the tags on pallets to be supplied to Wal-Mart.

EAN India, the global supply chain standards provider to the domestic industry promoted by the Ministry of Commerce, is currently working closely with the Indian exporters to adopt RFID technology based on the global `EPCglobal Network' standard, an EAN India release said.

"As global retailers and buyers move rapidly towards directing their suppliers to adopt EPC-based RFID technology, Indian exporters would need to take pro-active steps to meet stipulated deadlines to protect and enhance their global market shares or else risk losing business opportunities from major global buyers," said Mr Ravi Mathur, CEO, EAN India.

Besides retailers, adoption of EPC technology is also aggressively driven by such international bodies as the US Food & Drug Administration, US Department of Defence from perspectives of counterfeit detection, arresting of pilferage, product traceability and asset tracking and higher supply chain efficiency," Mr Mathur said. Adopting the RFID standard would facilitate detection of counterfeit merchandise and theft in global supply chains, leading to safe and genuine products and retail shelves, he added.