EPCglobal US Announces Healthcare Industry Summit on RFID

Industry Leaders to Identify Specific Initiatives, Implementation Opportunities and Standards Needs to Address the Unique Needs of the Healthcare Industry

LAWRENCEVILLE, New Jersey, April 14, 2004 – EPCglobal US, the implementation and education support organization for the EPCglobal Network, has announced the EPCglobal US Healthcare Industry Summit on RFID to be held on May 7, 2004 in Princeton, New Jersey. Organization sponsors include the Healthcare Distribution Management Association, Auto-ID Labs, and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

The EPCglobal US Healthcare Industry Summit on RFID will bring together leading firms in the healthcare industry. Participating companies will include: pharmaceutical drug manufacturers and distributors; medical/surgical equipment manufacturers and distributors; healthcare providers; and representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"The Healthcare Industry Summit on RFID is a forum in which business leaders can collaboratively identify, prioritize and implement RFID in healthcare," said Dicki Lulay, President of EPCglobal US. "This approach is made possible through the use of EPCglobal standards."

EPCglobal US Announces Healthcare Summit
This group will identify specific industry-wide needs that, when met, will create a more efficient and effective supply chain through the use of RFID. Once identified, the Healthcare Business Action Group will work with the EPCglobal community to define and develop the standards that will support the implementation of the EPCglobal Network to address those needs.

"The development of industry-driven technical standards for RFID that address the unique needs of the healthcare community is critical," said Mike Haas, Vice President, Information Management, Johnson & Johnson and Chief Information Officer, Consumer and Personal Care Group, Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson is the sole corporate sponsor of the EPCglobal US Healthcare Industry Summit on RFID. "This type of collaboration is a catalyst to quickly drive the adoption of RFID and return on investment for these organizations."

For further information about the EPCglobal US Healthcare Industry Summit on RFID, please visit the www.epcglobalus.org/healthcare or call 609-620-4648.

About the EPCglobal Network
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 benefits 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.

EPCglobal US Announces Healthcare Summit
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.

About EPCglobal
EPCglobal, Inc., a joint venture between EAN International and the Uniform Code Council (UCC), is a not-for-profit organization entrusted to drive the global, multi-industry adoption and implementation of the EPC Network^TM. EPCglobal leverages the nearly thirty year heritage of EAN International and the UCC in successfully partnering with industry. The neutral, consensus-based, standards organization aims to make organizations more effective by enabling true visibility of information about items in the supply chain by developing and managing standards for the EPC Network. For more information on EPCglobal visit www.EPCglobalinc.org or www.EPCglobalUS.org

EPCglobal US is an affiliate of EPCglobal serving subscribers in the United States to help foster the adoption of the EPC Network and related technology.