Australian supermarket giants Coles, Woolworths, Cosco and Metcash have acclaimed the new GS1 Australia product retail technology, Recallnet.

In an open letter, published on the GS1 website, the retailers asked their suppliers to join themselves into technology.

“We are pleased to announce our support of GS1 Recallnet, our industry’s tool for the effective management of recall and withdrawal notifications,” the retailer’s letter to suppliers said.

“We are now encouraging all of our partners to work with us by registering to use the portal,” it added.

Recallnet is an online portal that accelerates product recalls and withdrawals by simplifying and automating the exchange of information between suppliers, distributors and retailers as well as government agencies such as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

For suppliers, the online portal makes it easier to accurately issue these notifications to customers in a timely manner, speeding up the information flow, eliminating confusion and saving money.

“When you issue recalls and withdrawals today, it’s hard to know whether the right information is delivered to the right people at the right time; which is why we’re proud to be joining this industry-wide effort to improve and standardise recall and withdrawal notifications,” the retailers wrote.

Using Recallnet, recalled products can be quickly removed from sale and supply, protecting the brand and consumers.

“Our organisations are actively participating in this initiative because of the positive benefits it brings to our industry and the safety of our customers,” the retailers write.

“Since its launch in August 2011, GS1 Recallnet has been incorporated into the business processes of a significant number of our trading partners,” the letter added.

GS1 Recallnet is administered by GS1 Australia on a cost-recovery basis.

Access to the portal is available to all suppliers, with fees of $120 per annum which includes access to full training as well as the ability to undertake mock recalls – a critical part of product recall preparation.

GS1 Australia recently released a Global Data Synchronisation (GDS) based process also allows customers to access extended product data available via the new GS1 GoScan iPhone application.  As reported by Australian Food News, the international food giant Nestle is one of the first to take-up this add on to the GS1.

Link to the open letter

Share