On the past 23rd of February, the EU has issued two important acts. Both are important in terms of impact on the GS1 standards for various reasons.

• the new EU data act https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52020PC0767 and
• the proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/proposal-directive-corporate-sustainable-due-diligence-and-annex_en

Both are important in terms of impact on the GS1 standards for various reasons.

Regarding the data act: the Commission proposes new rules on who can use and access product data generated in the EU across all economic sectors. The new measures are meant to allow users of connected devices to gain access to data generated by them and to share such data with third parties to develop data-driven services. A special focus is given to SMEs with the goal of preventing abuse of contractual imbalances in data sharing contracts.

The proposal on due diligence aims to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behavior throughout global value chains. Companies are required to identify and, where necessary, prevent, end or mitigate adverse impacts of their activities on human rights, such as child labor and exploitation of workers, and on the environment, for example, pollution and biodiversity loss.

It’s really worth noticing that this proposal applies to the company’s own operations, their subsidiaries, and their value chains (direct and indirect established business relationships). Companies will need to integrate due diligence into policies; identify adverse human rights and environmental impacts, prevent and stop them.

GS1 standards may play a role in bringing transparency and due diligence control along supply chains and so new opportunities are arising under the new legal frameworks.

If you want to know more information, please contact Francesca Poggiali (francesca.poggiali@gs1.org).