General

On the road to promoting international trade facilitation, Ningbo is accelerating its pace.

Since September 2022, Ningbo City released its first GM2D single item code for imported red wine, the number of GM2D transcoding codes for imported and exported goods in Ningbo has exceeded 14.4 million, achieving transcoding codes for 285 categories such as imported milk powder, wine, and exported outdoor products, Chen Yuangang, from the Ningbo Market Supervision Administration, introduced the implementation of the "Global QR Code Migration Plan" for import and export goods in Ningbo.

Chen Yuangang, from the Ningbo Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, introduced the implementation of the "Global QR Code Migration Plan" for import and export goods in Ningbo. Provided by Ningbo Council for the Promotion of International Trade

The Global Migration to 2D (GM2D) initiative was initiated by the International Organization for Item Coding (GS1) in 2020, aiming to promote the conversion of global commodity codes from one-dimensional barcodes to two-dimensional codes by 2027. It is a global plan to replace products with "second-generation identification cards" and a major change in international commodity coding rules. It aims to promote quality management, logistics and transportation of global commodities Marketing and international trade settlement play important roles.

At the meeting, Chen Yuangang stated that in May 2022, the International Organization for Item Coding, the China Item Coding Center, and the Zhejiang Provincial Market Supervision Administration signed a tripartite declaration, and Zhejiang Province will conduct a pilot test as the world's first GM2D demonstration zone. As one of the important international port cities in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone, Ningbo takes the implementation of the "Global QR Code Migration Plan" as an opportunity to focus on import and export commodity trade. By restructuring the import and export commodity coding system and building an import commodity anti-counterfeiting traceability platform, it is the first to carry out a pilot application of GM2D for import and export commodities in the Beilun area of the Ningbo Free Trade Zone. In September 2022, Ningbo City released its first imported red wine GM2D product code.

Chen Yuangang pointed out that there are problems such as chaotic coding rules and inconsistent data standards among enterprises or industries, which restrict the interconnection and sharing of QR code data information. Therefore, in order to promote the integration of QR code information from the government, society, enterprises, and individuals, the Ningbo market regulatory department actively participated in the formulation of GM2D QR code rules and standards, led or participated in the drafting of 46 standards such as imported cold chain food traceability, and promoted the standardization and unification of QR code application.

Chen Yuangang also stated that the generation of GM2D codes for import and export goods in Ningbo relies on the import commodity anti-counterfeiting and traceability platform led by Ningbo Customs and Ningbo Market Supervision and Administration Bureau based on GS1 international rules. This platform is jointly built by the government and enterprises, and is different from other enterprises' self built platforms. The data displayed by scanning the codes has more credibility. The Ningbo Import Commodity Anti Counterfeit Traceability Platform is also connected to the Zhejiang Province "GM2D Online" QR Code Public Service Platform. Government departments can conduct big data analysis on the quantity of imported and exported goods, code usage scenarios, source countries, purchasing power, etc., to achieve full chain risk warning and control of imported goods. The GM2D application of import and export commodities in Ningbo is committed to promoting the deep integration of digital technology and the global industrial value chain, further reducing international trade transaction costs and helping to achieve more trade flows.

According to Chen Yuangang, Ningbo has launched the second batch of pilot projects, and the participating enterprises and product categories are rapidly expanding. Chen Yuangang revealed that during the upcoming Third Central and Eastern European Expo, some products with GM2D codes will be exhibited. Exhibitors can scan the QR code to learn about the product's product information, logistics information, and customs declaration information. At the same time, the GM2D code customization module also adds product descriptions, brand promotion, and other content to enhance consumers' trust in the quality of the product and brand awareness, thereby enhancing the market competitiveness of the product.

Chen Yuangang revealed that during the third Central and Eastern European Expo, the Ningbo Market Supervision and Administration Bureau will launch the "Application Specification for Imported Food Traceability QR Code" standard that meets the requirements of GS1, providing strong technical support for the unified coding rules for imported food traceability management, warehousing logistics, trade settlement, and other coding. He also expressed his hope to use the China Central and Eastern Europe Expo platform to enable more enterprises and chambers of commerce to understand GM2D, accelerate the application of GM2D in international trade between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and promote the facilitation of international trade in goods between China and Central and Eastern European countries.