Scannable 2D codes may be able to provide internal traceability

As more use is made of overprinted generic packaging, and concerns grow about cross-contamination and allergens, the use of scannable 2D codes could provide much-needed internal traceability and security.

This is the view of Domino Printing Sciences which, it says, has seen a growth in interest in such applications. "Before the product leaves the factory, the manufacturer needs to be reassured that the right product is in the right packaging," says business development manager Simon Smith.

Risks of mislabelling grow as food manufacturers consolidate multiple products on single sites and, increasingly, single lines. Variants are often packed in identical, generic materials, and only subsequently identified on a label or outer layer of packaging. "This allows manufacturers to provide late-stage customisation of their packaging at the point of production," says Smith. It can provide substantial cost and inventory benefits.

At fellow coding supplier Markem-Imaje, UK sales manager Steve Ellison agrees that growth in the use of generic packaging has thrown up some major challenges. He calls this application of 2D codes "an elegant solution to an ongoing issue", but implies that "elegant" could also mean "overspecified"

He says: "This use of Data Matrix has come from pharmaceuticals, with regulators from France to California requiring 2D serialisation. So software developers are asking: 'Where can we take this next?'." But he adds that different kinds of scanner will be required for conventional and 2D barcodes, while the possible requirement for more sophisticated scanners could add even more cost.