Finally, this bill will protect consumers from the possible health and safety risks that so often accompany tampered goods. Most of us think of UPC codes when we think of product identification codes. The block of black lines and numbers on the backs of cans and other containers. Product identification codes are different than UPC codes. These codes also enable manufacturers to trace the date and destination of shipment if needed.
Product codes play a critical role in the regulation of goods and services.
For example, when problems arise over drugs or medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, the product codes play a vital role in conducting successful recall. Similarly, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and other regulators, rely on product codes to conduct recalls of automobiles, dangerous toys, and other items that pose safety hazards. Product codes are frequently used by law enforcement to conduct criminal investigations as well. These codes have been used to pinpoint the location and sometimes the identity of criminals. Recently, product codes aided in the investigation of terrorist acts, including the bombing of Olympic Park in Atlanta, and the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.