Barcode labels play a crucial role in moving products through the supply chain. They provide information about what an item is, where it is going and how to handle it correctly and safely.
The supply chain is an interconnected network of individuals, organisations, and processes responsible for the creation, sale, and delivery of a product. These networks are complex and face a range of challenges, including geopolitical issues, customer demand, and regulatory compliance. That’s why supply chain risks consistently rank as a top priority for CEOs worldwide.
Proper labelling allows items to be moved efficiently and provides a basis for regulatory compliance and consumer trust.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of the biggest supply chain challenges across different industries and how barcode labels can simplify these complexities.
Retail Shipping Labels: Delivering Success
We’ve all felt that moment of excitement when a package arrives on our doorstep, but have you ever taken a closer look at the details on the label and wondered what they mean and why they’re there? Spoiler - beyond your name and address lies a world of data that keeps the supply chain moving 🌍
Studies show that in the UK, 85% of retailers have been impacted by supply chain issues, and so the data held within accurate barcode labels, helps to ensure a smooth journey from manufacturing to the delivery of goods to customers.
Each label type has specific requirements, including:
- SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code): A unique identifier for shipping containers
- Unit number: Identifies individual units within a shipment
- Code 128 barcode: Encodes details like production and packaging dates, batch number and more
- GTIN: A globally unique identification number that identifies your product at any packaging stage
- Pack unit: Specifies the quantity or configuration of items in a package
- Sender and recipient details: Sender address, recipient address and contact details
- Weight: The total weight of the parcel
- Shipping method: How the parcel has been delivered from the depot to your door
- Payment status: For example, “Pre-Paid” or “Cash on Delivery.”
It is important that the label requirements match the package correctly, so it can be handled using the right equipment in the right conditions, and reach the end customer on time.
Medical Device and Equipment Labels: Ensuring Safety and Traceability
Globally, over $163 billion worth of inventory is discarded each year due to products expiring or overproduction. A problem that is particularly visible in the medical industry, and has huge consequences for patient safety, efficiency in the supply chain and financial consequences, in the UK alone, unused medicines cost the NHS around £300 million each year.
Strict regulations help to govern how medical devices and equipment must be labelled to ensure availability, accessibility and traceability. Despite different regulatory bodies worldwide, medical device and medicine labels have typical features to safeguard public health and safety, including:
- Product name: The official name as registered with regulatory authorities
- Lot number or serial number: A unique identifier assigned to a specific batch or individual item
- Manufacturer details: The name, address and contact information of the company that produced the device
- The UDI carrier: The Unique Device Identifier in a barcode or RFID format
- Special storage requirements: Specific conditions required to store the product safely
- Handling conditions: Instructions to ensure the products integrity, such as “keep upright”
- Time limit for using the device safely: The products expiry date or the manufacturing date and how long it remains safe and effective for use
- An indication of its sterile state (if needed): Whether the product is sterile and if so, which sterilisation method was used
- Any information about certain substances that are above 0.1% of the products weight: Disclosure of any substances that could pose a health or environmental risk, such as chemicals or allergens
- Instructions for use: Detailed guidelines on how to use the product safely including how it may affect vulnerable groups like children, pregnant or breastfeeding women and any necessary precautions
- Other warnings and precautions to be taken: Any additional safety information such as side effects, contraindications and interactions with other products
All of this data is encoded to ensure that they are used safely, effectively and transparently. Compliance isn’t optional, but a legal and ethical necessity.
Cannabis Product Labels: Transparency and Legal Compliance
Across the world, Cannabis legalisation for personal use has expanded, and manufacturers face strict labelling requirements to ensure safe usage.
However, studies show only 31% of CBD products are properly labelled, with accuracy rates ranging from just 17% to 86%. This has significant potential consequences for user safety as well as legal challenges and reputational damage.
Generic cannabis product labels vary but all labels must, at minimum, contain:
- Product identification: The type of product such as gummies, oils or capsules
- Instructions for use: Clear guidance on proper and safe usage of the product
- Net weight: Total weight of the product, usually in grams or ounces
- Brand details: The brand name, contact details and other relevant information about the manufacturer
- Ingredients list and Cannabinoid Content: All ingredients, including the percentage of THC, CBD and CBG levels
- Packaged date & expiry date: The date the product was packaged and the expiry or use by date
- Lot number: The unique identifier assigned to that specific batch or item
- Health risks: Including possible side effects, health risks and possible interactions with other medicines
Additional mandatory warnings like age restrictions, resale limits and statements like ‘habit forming’ or ‘medical use only’ are also required depending on local laws.
Food Labels: Empowering Consumer Choice
If there is one label we all rely on daily, it’s food labels. From allergen warnings to nutritional information and cooking times - these labels help us to understand the food we purchase.
Any incorrect information can have serious consequences. In 2021, the UK passed Natasha’s Law following a fatal allergic reaction cause by incorrect labelling. Studies show that more than half of people with food allergies have experienced reactions due to mislabelled or unclear food packaging.
This, alongside the increase in the ‘food fraud’ phenomenon that takes advantage of the need for a continuous supple of safe and quality food, has created vulnerabilities within the food product supply chain.
In order to keep it efficient, and safe, regulatory bodies have strict labelling requirements that include:
- Product name: The name as prescribed in law
- Allergen information: Any potential allergens, including any ‘may contain’ warnings
- Nutritional information: Calories, macronutrients and colour-coded information if required
- Preparation instructions: How to prepare, or cook the product
- Storage guidance: How to store the product (e.g keep refrigerated)
- Price: Clearly display the products cost
- Best before / Use by dates: Statement on the products shelf life for safety and quality
- UPC barcode: A unique, scannable identifier that encodes price and tracking details
Requirements differ globally, so always check local guidelines to ensure compliance.
How can I create compliant barcode labels?
Ensuring your labels meet the correct industry and regional requirements can feel overwhelming, but Orca Scan makes it simple. The Orca Scan Barcode Label Designer is pre-configured with industry-compliant templates and a simple drag-and-drop tool that means you can design labels with all the required information while ensuring full compliance with relevant standards.
To make it a little easier, we’ve also added the ability to add information already stored in your existing Orca sheets, giving you end-to-end barcode creation, tracking, printing and monitoring.
Ready to make your first label? Try it out for free today 👈
Need help creating a barcode label?
If you need help creating a barcode label, or have any questions, we’re here to help, so drop us an email or chat with us live today.
