Brussels, 7 May 2009
GS1 in Europe in cooperation with six partner companies is launching the Transatlantic Traceability Infrastructure (TTI) project which focuses on the deployment of a traceability infrastructure based on existing concepts, technologies and standards. The infrastructure consists of several service platforms allowing the EU and US governments / administrations to increase the safety of the global supply chain
and reduce the opportunities for organized criminals to take advantage of its complexity. Recurrent problems such as counterfeiting, diversion, and product recalls have gotten much worse in recent years and the TTI project would allow EU and US governments to collaborate, thereby increasing transparency and actively reducing these cases.
The TTI was presented at the EU/US Symposium in Brussels on May 5th 2009 and officially started on May 6th 2009. The project will finalize the functionality requirements, concepts, business, organisation and governance (BOG) models, as well as pilots (proof of concept) using bar code, data matrix and RFID technology by the end of 2009 in order to begin implementing its operational activities starting from 2010.
The TTI Project will consist in designing, building, and demonstrating a secure network of traceability in an actual transatlantic supply chain. The TTI will be conceived to be usable on any product that can be serialized using barcode, data matrix or RFID. Further, it will allow to
track and to trace any kind of object/product, from vessels, containers, food, pharmaceuticals to automotive and airplane parts.
"After two years of fruitful government-to-government cooperation on RFID within the framework for advancing transatlantic economic integration between the US and the EU, the vision, ambitious objectives and organisational maturity of the TTI consortium demonstrate that industry and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic are today committed to realise the full potential of RFID technology, in accordance with the goals and values set for that framework", said Gérald Santucci, Head of Unit "Networked Enterprise and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)" at Directorate-General Information Society and Media of the European Press Release – Transatlantic Traceability Infrastructure (TTI)_V4 Commission. Mr Santucci noted in particular the strategic importance which such a pilot project could have for small- and medium-sized enterprises.
"After two years of fruitful government-to-government cooperation on RFID within the framework for advancing transatlantic economic integration between the US and the EU, the vision, ambitious objectives and organisational maturity of the TTI consortium demonstrate
that industry and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic are today committed to realise the full potential of RFID technology, in accordance with the goals and values set for that framework", said Gérald Santucci, Head of Unit "Networked Enterprise and Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID)" at Directorate-General Information Society and Media of the European Press Release – Transatlantic Traceability Infrastructure (TTI)_V4 Commission. Mr Santucci noted in particular the strategic importance which such a pilot project could have for small- and medium-sized enterprises.
"Today several companies are deploying closed loop and proprietary traceability solutions. I believe that such solutions will have no future. Supply chains are complex and involve many different stakeholders including companies of any size and government bodies. Especially customs will be more and more confronted with proprietary solutions and will not be able to handle them all. The only way to realise a successful and sustainable traceability solution is to create a standardised solution including all stakeholders. The Transatlantic Traceability Infrastructure is the first of its kind and will allow solution providers to collaborate in a competitive environment." explained Stephane Pique, European Director EPC/RFID of GS1 in Europe.
More information about the TTI is available under www.gs1.eu/tti
Notes to the Editor:
About GS1:
GS1 is a neutral, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility in supply chains. GS1 is driven by more than a million companies, who execute more than five billion transactions a day with the GS1 System of Standards. This makes it the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world.
For more information about GS1, visit: www.gs1.org
About GS1 in Europe:
GS1 in Europe is a collaboration of 45 GS1 national member organisations. We lead
the creation and implementation of harmonised, user-driven solutions for improving the
supply and demand chain of European companies.
For more information about GS1 in Europe, visit: www.gs1eu.org
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