Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
What is RFID?
RFID is an established data-carrying technology used by an increasing number of business sectors, including retail, transport, logistics and pharmaceuticals. Data relating to an item is stored on a tag (electronic chip) which is attached to the item. Once activated, the tag sends data back to a reader. This data is then routed to back-office systems to log and activate further actions from the received data. Tags can be either passive or active. Passive tags do not have an internal source of power but are activated by radio waves emitted from the reader. Active tags have their own energy source to power their signal.
Today, RFID is increasingly being used to identify and track items as they move through global supply chains from the point of manufacture to the final sale to the customer. In general, most RFID tags used on consumer products contain nothing more than “Electronic Product Code (EPC). Just like the barcode, the EPC allows users to identify items uniquely, but no line of sight is required for RFID to read an EPC - this makes the identification process faster and more efficient.
Towards an RFID Policy for Europe
The European Commission is continuing a wide-ranging public debate on the opportunities and challenges posed by RFID technology including for government, industry and society at large. It is being aided an EU RFID Experts Group, the work of which will feed into proposals from the European Commission on the use of RFID technology and the future Internet of Things during 2008/09. More information on the European Commission work can be found here.
RFID: Privacy & Security
The Office of the Information Commissioner has produced a technical guide on privacy aspects of RFID technology use, which can be downloaded via its website.
The European Commission has recently consulted on its draft Recommendation on 'RFID Privacy and Data Security' issues. The European Commission is looking to have the final Recommendation adopted later in 2008, which will be made available on the European Commission website.
Contact
Paul Redwin, Electronics & IT Services Unit (tel: 020 7215 1847, email: Paul.redwin@berr.gsi.gov.uk)