Supply chain standards

HISO has endorsed and requires the use of chosen GS1 standards for automatic identification and data capture in the health and disability system. These standards broadly cover entity identification - of organisations and locations - and asset or product identification.

Central to these supply chain standards are the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and the Global Location Number (GLN). GTINs are globally unique identifiers for manufactured products. Worldwide, 90 percent of medicines and medical devices have a GTIN. Correspondingly, GLNs are globally unique identifiers for organisations, facilities and locations. The New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) is an example of a GLN.

Standards for automatic identification and data capture enable:

• improved and integrated processes with suppliers, distributors and customers
• improved security and cost savings
• provision of reliable product information
• timely and accurate product recall and withdrawal.

The chosen GS1 standards are represented by ten ISO/IEC standards that have been adopted as New Zealand Standards. See the GS1 New Zealand website for information about these ten standards to support international supply chain efficiency.

The attached slide deck (PDF, 2.43 MB) illustrates the use of the different GS1 identifiers in the supply chain, using the distribution of a COVID-19 test kit and items of personal protective equipment (PPE) as examples. (Acknowledgements to GS1 Latin America.)

History

In August 2011, the HISO committee endorsed GS1 standards for automated product identification for all pharmaceutical products and supplies. This includes data carriers (barcodes), the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) product identifier and other associated data definitions.

HISO later considered full endorsement of the GS1 standards for automated product identification for all medical devices and equipment following consultation with the relevant bodies and stakeholders, and with reference to decisions made in other significant jurisdictions such as the USA Food and Drug Administration and the European Union.

In June 2017, HISO completed this work and published a statement on medical device terminology and identification standards, which extends the endorsement of GS1 standards to medical devices and equipment.

In November 2019, HISO participated in a Standards NZ project to adopt a set of ten ISO/IEC standards for automatic identification and data capture, now published as New Zealand Standards. 

GS1

GS1 is an international not-for-profit association with member organisations in over 100 countries, including New Zealand. It is dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across sectors. The GS1 system of standards is the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world. So far more than 145 countries have adopted or are committed to adopting GS1 standards.