EAN International and Uniform Code Council Introduce New Joint Venture and Identity for AutoID, Inc.

New Name, EPCglobal, Signals Launch of Worldwide Effort to Drive Adoption of Electronic Product Code (EPC) Technology

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM/LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ, September 16, 2003 – EAN International and the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC), leaders in facilitating efficient international business, today announced the launch of a joint venture to be named EPCglobal, Inc. The introduction of the joint venture's new identity signals the launch of the not-for-profit organisations' effort to drive global, multi-industry adoption of the EPCglobal Network, based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, that will enable companies to have true visibility of their supply chains in real time, in any industry, anywhere in the world.

Under the terms of the agreement, EPCglobal will oversee the development of open, global standards for the EPCglobal Network to facilitate worldwide, multi-sector industry adoption. The UCC and EAN International will leverage their global user base of over one million member companies to drive adoption of EPC technology through the development of universally supported standards. Both organisations emphasized that while the sectors currently served by the EAN.UCC System provide a critical mass of users in over 140 countries, the goal is to expand use to any and all industries seeking to apply this technology.

Developed by the Auto-ID Center, an academic research project headquartered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) with labs at five leading research universities around the world, the EPCglobal Network is a system that is based on a unique identification number called the electronic product code, or EPC. The EPC uses RFID technology to capture information and link it to an open and accessible network, enabling real-time identification and sharing of information.

Companies see great benefit in using the EPCglobal Network for increased accuracy and efficiency in the manufacturing and distribution of products. Near-term benefits that have been identified include better tracking of pallets and cases of products in warehouses, distribution centers, and back room applications.

Thomas Rittenhouse, the President and CEO of the Uniform Code Council said, "The EPCglobal Network is uniquely positioned to help companies solve practical business challenges. With the continued support of the world's biggest and best-known companies, our new organisation will focus on a user-driven process to develop the open, global standards to unlock EPC's full potential. As EPC technology moves from the research phase into real world applications, we feel this is another historic step in the evolution of the supply chain."

"Improving the efficiency of our user's supply chains has always been our primary focus at EAN International. The coming availability of the EPC system shows that we are determined to raise the stakes even higher. From now on our pledge is to consistently exceed our user's future expectations," said Miguel-Angel Lopera, Chief Executive Officer. "This pledge is proof of the new leadership of EAN International. We will strive to leverage new and improved solutions from the ever-evolving advances in computer and allied technology for the benefit of our users and the continuing improvement of the global supply chain. EPCglobal is the first step in this pledge."

Strong Business Case Stimulates Cross-Industry Membership
Analyst firms predict that near-term deployments of RFID technologies on product pallets and cases in warehouses and distribution centers deep in the supply chain have the potential to save companies billions of dollars. These implementations will allow companies to capture supply chain information with greater accuracy, detail, and real-time visibility. This will lead to more informed decisions and improvements in common business processes.

While RFID use has until now been limited to closed systems and proprietary applications, the EPCglobal Network has received unprecedented support for its emphasis on an open and global standard. With the neutral, proven track record of the UCC and EAN International behind the new EPCglobal organisation, companies will be assured that EPC standards will be user-driven, consensus-based, and developed so EPC technology benefits all companies.

Version 1.0 of EPCglobal Network Now Available
Today's announcement of the new EPCglobal entity coincides with the first public availability of the technical specifications on the EPC Network released by the Auto-ID Center.

Sanjay Sarma, chairman of research and co-founder of the Auto-ID Center said, "It is very fulfilling to see this technology begin its transition into commercialisation. The launch of the EPCglobal Network is a testament to the many minds around the world that created it and the support and vision of the more than 100 sponsor companies and organisations that supported our research over the years. We look forward to continuing our work with EPCglobal and its members to realise the potential of this technology."

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About EAN International
EAN International is the global not-for-profit organisation that creates, develops and manages jointly with one of its Member Organizations, the Uniform Code Council, the EANUCC standards, which are open, global, multisectoral information standards, based on best business practices. By driving their implementation, EAN International and its Member Organizations play a leading role in supply and demand chain management improvement worldwide. For more information about EAN International, visit http://www.ean-int.org/.

About the Uniform Code Council
The Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development and implementation of standards-based, global supply chain solutions. Under its auspices, the UCC operates two wholly owned subsidiaries, UCCnet and RosettaNet, and it co-manages its global EANUCC System with EAN International. The UCC also manages the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC®) for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The newly-formed EPCglobal, Inc. is a joint venture of the Uniform Code Council and EAN International. UCC-based solutions, including business processes, XML standards, EDI transaction sets, and the bar code identification standards of the EAN.UCC System are currently used by more than one million member companies worldwide. For more information about the Uniform Code Council, please visit www.uc-council.org.