GS1 NZ announces online service for rapid recall or withdrawal of products

GS1 New Zealand is urging 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 standardised recall or withdrawal notices with greater efficiency than current ad hoc 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 have already registered.

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 standdown period.

“The more companies that register and the sooner they do, the more efficient and effective ProductRecall^nz will become across the food and grocery sector,” said Dr Peter Stevens, Chief Executive of GS1 New Zealand.

“It is an easy-to-use online tool that companies should have at their fingertips, in full recognition that it might be needed any time and that the benefits are potentially huge in terms of protection for consumer safety, for revenues, for business reputation and so on.”

GS1 NZ developed ProductRecall^nz in collaboration with the Foodstuffs Group, Progressive Enterprises, the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council, Cadbury, DB Breweries, Fonterra Brands, Goodman Fielder, Kimberly-Clark and Nestlé. The organisations are now calling for sector-wide registration.

To register for ProductRecall^nz, visit www.productrecallnz.co.nz. For more information, call 0800 10 23 56.