GS1 Australia, Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and Efficient Consumer Response Australasia (ECRA) have launched a national product recall service to remove potentially harmful grocery, food, liquor and other products from the supply chain.
GS1 Australia has worked with the AFGC, ECRA, the Liquor Merchants’ Association (LMAA) and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the Food Service Association of Australia (FSAA) and Australian retailers and manufacturers to establish GS1 Recallnet, initially to be used by the Australian grocery and liquor sector.
AFGC chief executive Kate Carnell says innovations such as Recallnet would enable manufacturers to stay on the forefront of global best practice.
“Product recalls pose a significant challenge to Australian manufacturers and this portal will enable them to manage recall notifications easily, ensuring the food safety of all Australians,” she said.
As part of the GS1 Recallnet, companies are able to manage and recall and withdrawal notifications online, safely and securely, as well as capture data needed to complete progress reports to regulators. Additionally, this initiative will help simplify the process of issuing notifications.
Maria Palazzolo, GS1 Australia CEO, said global supply chain standards are foundational to effective product recall.
“Tracking of products through the supply chain into the hands of consumers has been identified by the ACCC as fundamental to improving recall effectiveness and the use of GS1 Recallnet and GS1 Standards provides industry with this ability,” she said.