- 2005 Sunrise

Since the introduction of the 12-digit Universal Product Code (U.P.C.) more than 30 years ago, the use of the EAN.UCC System has expanded rapidly to facilitate global commerce. To meet the need for improving commerce efficiency, the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC) has announced that by January 1, 2005 all U.S. and Canadian companies must be capable of scanning and processing EAN-8 and EAN-13 symbols, in addition to 12-digit U.P.C. symbols, at point-of-sale. The UCC announced this initiative, named 2005 Sunrise, in 1997 to allow U.S. and Canadian companies ample time to address all conversion issues.There are also topics related to 2005 Sunrise that deserve every company's attention.

Read The 2005 Sunrise Executive Summary from the Uniform Code CouncilRECOMMENDATIONS:

• A company that must upgrade its systems to become 2005 Sunrise Compliant should plan to become GTIN Compliant. For little or no incremental cost over becoming 2005 Sunrise Compliant, a company can be ready to use RSS symbols and/or data synchronization.

• A company that is 2005 Sunrise Compliant but not GTIN Compliant needs to make a business decision whether to become GTIN Compliant. Remember that GTIN compliance is required to use RSS symbols and/or to pursue data synchronization.

DELAYS CAN CREATE CONSEQUENCES.

Failure to update systems may have the following consequences:

• The inability to share standardized information with trading partners.

• Additional product marking costs for trading partners and, ultimately, the consumer.

• Consumers will experience service problems.

• Time-to-market delays and other critical inefficiencies. The UCC urges all companies that have not yet achieved 2005 Sunrise compliance to begin system planning, testing, and update/conversion activities. The time to start is now!