Companies wishing to export their products will begin applying to Belgium-based global barcode association, GS1, for their country specific bar code by the end of the year.
With the assistance of the Myanmar Barcode Association, companies with international ambitions are applying for this unique, but universally recognized barcode, to identify their product as “Made in Myanmar” in the international marketplace.
“Registration at Belgium’s GS1 will begin next year. Thai companies are providing technical support and industry insight while the Myanmar Barcode Association is assiting local companies install the barcode on their products.” U Zaw Min Win, chairman of Myanmar Industries Association, said.
For years, Myanmar products have faced problems overseas when being digitally scanned in markets, malls, and retail shops.
A list of 40 small-scale export products was submitted to GS1 unsuccessfully last year. Large scale companies however, have the financial resources to apply for and install international bar codes, U Htain Lin Oo, Managing Partner of Myanmar Trademark & Patent Law Firm, told Myanmar Business Today.
“Shwe Pyi Nann, a traditional cosmetic company which produces Thanakha, was one of the first companies to apply for an internationally recognized barcode. The company faced problems in Thai shopping malls because Myanmar barcodes were not recognized throughout the retail supply chain,” U Htein Lin Oo, said.
Each product in the international retail market features a 13 digit-barcode on the back of the products issued by global barcode organization, GS1. The first 3 digits refer to which country the product hails from.
The international barcodes system is administered by the GS1 to ensure that each number corresponds to only one product.
When products weren’t being recognized and couldn’t be indentified, an association to handle the barcode misidentification arose. They went by the name, Myanmar Barcode Association, and took up the task of fighting for the faceless. It has grown to represent Myanmar companies in their battle to be recognized abroad. For Myanmar products and companies both large and small-scale.
A UMFCCI meeting with the Myanmar Barcode Association to discuss the challenges and options for application will take place on August 9.
Source: Myanmar Business Today
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