China’s Commodity Barcode Printing Qualification Measures: Core Rules for Printer Accreditation and Quality Control

Article 1 These Measures are established under relevant state regulations to standardize commodity barcode printing qualification accreditation, safeguard barcode printing quality, expand barcode promotion and application, and support the growth of commercial automation.

Article 2 Commodity barcode printing qualification accreditation means the China Article Numbering Center and its branch offices, after receiving applications from printing enterprises, assess those enterprises’ quality assurance capabilities for commodity barcode printing in line with national commodity barcode standards and related rules. Enterprises that pass are issued the Commodity Bar Code Printing Qualification Certificate (the Qualification Certificate), confirming their qualification to print commodity barcodes.

Article 3 These Measures cover application, review, approval, issuance, cancellation, and re-accreditation for commodity barcode printing qualification accreditation.

Article 4 The China Article Numbering Center (the Article Numbering Center), under the State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision, is nationally responsible for commodity barcode printing qualification accreditation; it approves printing enterprises’ commodity barcode printing qualification and issues the Qualification Certificate.

Article 5 Branch offices of the Article Numbering Center accept local printing enterprises’ applications for commodity barcode printing qualification and organize evaluations and sampling inspections.

Article 6 Printing enterprises that have obtained a business license according to law may apply for commodity barcode printing qualification accreditation.

Article 7 Printing enterprises seeking commodity barcode printing qualification accreditation must complete application procedures with the local branch office of the Article Numbering Center and submit the following:

(1) Commodity Bar Code Printing Qualification Application Form;

(2) A duplicate of the business license and a copy of it;

(3) Commodity Bar Code Printing Quality Assurance Manual.

Article 8 The branch office of the Article Numbering Center must finish a documentary review within seven days from receiving the applicant enterprise’s materials. If the documentary review passes, the branch office must organize and complete an on-site evaluation and sampling inspection within one month from completing the documentary review; if the documentary review fails, it must return the materials and explain why.

Where the on-site evaluation and sampling inspection pass, the branch office must sign its opinion and submit the application materials, evaluation qualification, and sampling inspection report, among other documents, to the Article Numbering Center for approval; where the on-site evaluation or sampling inspection fails, it must return the materials and identify the nonconforming items.

Article 9 The Article Numbering Center must complete approval within fifteen days from receiving the materials submitted by its branch office. If approved, it issues the Qualification Certificate and makes an announcement; if not approved, it returns the materials and states the reasons.

Article 10 A printing enterprise holding the Qualification Certificate may undertake commodity barcode printing business and, when entrusted by system members or lawful users of commodity barcodes, print commodity barcodes.

Article 11 When taking on commodity barcode printing business, a printing enterprise must check the client’s China Commodity Bar Code System Member Certificate or documentary proof of lawful commodity barcode use, and register the certificate number or document batch number.

Printing enterprises must print commodity barcodes in accordance with relevant national standards and ensure commodity barcode printing quality.

Article 12 The Qualification Certificate remains valid for three years.

Article 13 If a printing enterprise holding the Qualification Certificate wants to keep its commodity barcode printing qualification after expiry, it must apply for re-accreditation two months before the Qualification Certificate expires; the Article Numbering Center and its branch offices must conduct re-review and re-verification according to the prescribed procedures.

Article 14 An enterprise that has obtained the Qualification Certificate must promptly correct any of the following situations; if it fails to correct them, the Article Numbering Center will cancel its commodity barcode printing qualification, withdraw the Qualification Certificate, and issue an announcement.

(1) Accepting a client’s entrustment to print commodity barcodes when that client has not obtained the China Commodity Bar Code System Member Certificate or documentary proof of lawful commodity barcode use;

(2) Failing a supervisory inspection of commodity barcode printing quality.

Article 15 The State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision is responsible for interpreting these Measures.

Article 16 These Measures take effect on the date of promulgation.

Source: China Packaging Network (pack.cn), original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-362038.html