How can consumers be aware of the use of RFID?

Modified on Fri, 30 Aug at 2:53 PM

There are no binding rules that oblige the RFID operator (the entity that determines the purposes and means of the RFID application) to make people (consumers and other users) aware of the use/presence of RFID (readers or tags). Nevertheless, if one wants to take into account possible consumers’ concerns, good practice is to notify the use of RFID (whatever the technology). This can be done in different ways. Notification can be made available electronically on the RFID operator’s website or physically with the use of a poster.

Mainly for retail applications (for which NFC or RAIN RFID tagged items can be purchased by consumers), it is good practice to add (print) an RFID emblem on the package. The RFID emblem defined in the ISO/IEC 29160 and in EN 16571 standards can also be used for consumers’ awareness. Nevertheless, this generic emblem doesn’t give information neither on the RFID technology (LF, NFC, RAIN, …) nor on the encoded data.

The RAIN alliance proposes the use of the RAIN logo that is devoted to the passive UHF technology but that gives no information on the data encoded in the tag.

Finally, GS1/EPC proposes a symbol (the EPC cube) that both notify the presence of a RAIN RFID tag and the fact that the encoded data is compliant with GS1 rules and guideline. More information can be found at https://www.gs1.org/standards/rfid/guidelines