Ghana Prepares For Bar Codes

Ghana is preparing itself for the use of bar codes on all products, particularly those for export.

Bar codes are black and white lines with code numbers embossed on the products. It helps in determining the price of the product, ensures traceability of goods and the quantity produced within a period, among others.

The Ghana Standards Board (GSB), in conjunction with the Institute of Packaging, Ghana (IOPG) and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), is to facilitate the formation of a Bar Coding Management Board in the country.

The President of IOPG, Mr Kofi Essuman, who disclosed this in an interview in Accra, said the introduction of bar codes had become necessary because since January 1, this year, all products entering European Union (EU) countries were required to ensure traceability.

African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) countries, including Ghana, are operating under a dispensation to allow them to put things in order.

Mr Essuman said the collaboration parties were in their first stages of talks after which they would apply to the European Articles Number (EAN) International, one of the bodies that has the property right over bar codes.