LONDON 21 November 2007 -- Michel Danet, Secretary General of the World Customs Organisation, and Miguel Lopera, Chief Executive Officer of GS1, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Brussels yesterday in recognition of the wide range of business interests shared by the two organisations and to provide a framework for further cooperation.

GS1’s identification numbers can provide the WCO with global standards for the management of goods and assets, and the reconciliation of data. These standards will contribute to the WCO’s efforts to secure the trade supply chain, protect society, facilitate international trade, and increase the efficiency and predictability of customs procedures at national borders.

The two organisations agree to cooperate and maintain systematic exchange of information on matters of interest which will include the designation of contact persons to facilitate efficient cooperation, reciprocal invitations to meetings of common interest, joint training activities, exchange of experts, and support for initiatives that continue to harmonise standards in the customs sector.

GS1 will assist the WCO in the development of supply chain standards that meet the requirements of the customs community while the WCO will participate in the standards development work for the customs sector that is currently being done by GS1.

About GS1 UK
GS1 UK has driven innovation in the supply chain for over thirty years. It is part of the global GS1 organisation, dedicated to the development and implementation of global data standards and solutions for the supply chain.  GS1 standards are the most widely used in the world. 

GS1 UK aims to make it faster, more cost effective and safer for our members to serve their customers through the industry wide adoption of global GS1 standards and locally delivered services.  GS1 UK helps industry to implement these data standards through the use of bar codes, RFID, Global Data Synchronisation (GDS) and electronic business messaging.

About WCO
The World Customs Organisation (WCO), with its 171 Members across the globe responsible for processing approximately 99% of world trade, is the only intergovernmental organisation uniquely focused on customs matters. Recognised as the voice of the international customs community, the WCO is particularly noted for its work in areas covering the development of global standards, the simplification and harmonisation of customs procedures, trade supply chain security, trade facilitation, customs enforcement and compliance, anti-counterfeiting and piracy initiatives, integrated border management, global customs capacity building programmes, the international Harmonized System goods nomenclature, customs valuation and rules of origin. Web site: www.wcoomd.org.

For more information contact:

Lisa Henshaw or Kirsty Sewter
Fourth Day PR
+44 (0)20 7403 4411

Suraya Adnan-Ariffin
GS1 UK
+44 (0)20 70923575

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