Stores to get recall help from Canadian-made computer program

GS1 Industries has a new computer program for retail stores to speed up the process in removing recalled items. There are about 3,000 Canadian stores already waiting for the program to be installed.

680 News reports that the computer program from Canadian company GS1 Industries will help to save lives. GS1's website reports:

"The efficient and effective handling of product recalls is one of our industry's highest priorities,” said Nick Jennery, President and CEO, Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors. “CCGD is always open and willing to participate in any initiative that enhances and streamlines the recall communication processes between businesses. A truly collaborative effort between manufacturers, retailers and distributors in this initiative demonstrates an industry wide commitment to ensuring that accurate information can be easily shared between all trading partners.”

The new computer program will not replace nor change the CFIA's recall system. The first launches of the program, planned to begin in 2010, will be in grocery stores. There are plans for a future program that will allow shoppers to scan bar codes on their cell phones to see if there are recall orders on products. GS1 Canada is a not-for-profit supply chain standards organization. It has over 10,000 members from 23 sectors across the nation. Alison Reed, a spokesperson for GS1 sent me information about the program. According to that information vendors will have 24 hour support on a secure online system. The system's efficiency will eliminate the need to expand recalls which means minimizing the lost sales for retailers. The fee for retailers is based on their sales revenues, from the bottom tier's fee of $250 to those retailers with more than $50 million in revenue's fee of $1,750.