How to Get Ready for the New GMO Labeling Requirements

The New GMO Requirements

On July, 29, 2016 President Barack Obama signed into law new labeling requirements for foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMO). These laws will override individual state laws, like Vermont’s that currently has strict labeling specifications for food products containing genetically modified ingredients. The new regulations, which some argue are less stringent than some state laws, do not require categorical on-package listing of GMO ingredients. Instead, the new national regulations would mandate that a scannable quick response (QR) code be applied to labels, allowing them to be scanned with a smartphone leading customers to a website giving a more detailed listing of the GMO ingredients. Further, smaller companies would be allowed to list a 1(800) number on their packaging in lieu of a QR code. This rule goes into effect for all companies that use GMOs, with the exception of those who remove the modified genes during the manufacturing process.

 What Do Companies Need to Do to Prepare?

These new requirements would seem to be a step forward for customers seeking product transparency, however, it presents a unique challenge for brands nationwide. Putting a QR code on a package requires label, packaging and artwork modifications, coupled with the need for an up-to-the-minute website that details exactly what GMOs are inside of the food products being sold. It sounds easy enough, but that depends entirely on whether or not you’re working with Brand Lifecycle Management software (BLM) that offers the capabilities to handle the entire process in an efficient manner. While many SaaS artwork management solutions offer you the ability to make labeling changes offering varying degrees of efficiency and quality, only a select few can help you share your product data automatically, efficiently and globally to the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN).   

 Getting Your Artwork Ready for the GMO Labeling Requirements

The two things to focus on here are efficiency and accuracy, especially considering that the GMO labeling requirements come with a deadline. Even if it didn’t efficiency doesn’t just cut down on time, but it also can save you from a lot of needless expenses. A quality BLM can let you streamline the artwork approval process, but the right workflow modules are crucial.

 Online Proofing

Online proofing allows company decision-makers over multiple departments, as well as vendor partners located across the globe to collaborate in real-time. This streamlines the often laborious, but important tasks like assessing and proofing artwork versions and copy. It allows stakeholders multiple ways to view, compare and annotate labeling artwork and offers powerful tools to analyze artwork characteristics across all file formats. In terms of efficiency, this reduces long cycle times and numbers, which cuts down on time, employee hours and wasted time.

Automated Workflow

Another crucial component in terms of increasing speed to market and hitting any potential deadlines is having automated workflow that retailers can use to modify timelines, monitor projects, analyze performance and identify bottlenecks in the work stream. Automated Workflow should also be able to automate and dynamically execute dozens of important project management functions to optimize complex graphics workflows.

Digital Asset Library

Companies configuring their assets to be compliant with GMO requirements is important, but they need a place to securely store these assets for future use. This will save them from reproduction costs or the expenses accrued from missing assets going forward. While in the short term, a Digital Asset Library (DAM) won’t play a crucial role in preparing you for the GMO deadline, having a centralized database that can be accessed and shared companywide should be a requirement when choosing a BLM. Aside from being able to quickly access files, it will greatly increase a company’s abilities to remain on-spec and on-brand with graphics and copy.

Copy Management

Making sure you choose a BLM solution that can give you the ability to publish and update powerful, flexible and accurate product copy to package artwork, websites and other marketing materials has moved to the top of the list for CPG’s. Not only should a BLM be able to leverage dynamic XML technology, but it should be able to let you track where the copy is being used, on what SKU, pack or label. A copy management solution should be able to protect the version of the copy that decision-makers signed off on, then help publish it to dielines, artwork, e-commerce sites systems and more, automatically. The copy should be able to be quickly reproduced in every instance from “a single source of truth.”

Connecting your Information with the Consumer

 Far and away the most urgent step for a company preparing for the GMO labeling deadline is partnering with a BLM solution that can connect them with the GS1 GDSN data pool – and it should be noted that very few BLM solution providers are certified to do this. An essential part of the current Smartlabel Initiative, data pool providers are now poised to play a pivotal role in allowing companies to link QR codes to data stored on the internet. It’s a process that relies heavily on a data pool provider that can guarantee the integrity and authenticity of the information reaching your trading partners as well as consumers. The importance of a BLM that is linked to an elite GDSN data pool provider like 1WorldSync, cannot be understated. As the GMO Label Requirements will likely call for a QR Code, ensuring that the information being scanned is 100% accurate and up-to-date is not only vital to retaining the trust of consumers, but it could protect you from potential penalties that may come with not being compliant with the new GMO Labeling regulations. A BLM that is connected and certified with a data pool that can offer you a plethora of solutions, such as Supply Chain Enablement, Product Risk and Compliance and Omni-Channel Commerce. From there this info can be passed on with confidence to a product website, and the GDSN, which will, in turn, make available that information over to retailers across the world. Once this process is set up, it allows everyone to be connected to the same continuously synchronized data.

The only Brand Lifecycle Management solution that offers everything you need to get you up and running with the upcoming GMO label changes is BLUE Software. Offering you access to the GDSN via 1WorldSync, a Digital Asset Library, Online Proofing and Automated Workflow, BLUE offers the complete BLM package, while others simply offer components of it.

About BLUE Software

BLUE Software is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider of Brand Lifecycle Management software that helps Consumer Products (FMCG/CPG), Life Sciences, and Retail companies achieve global visibility into the business processes that drive the execution and compliance of their brands efficiently across media worldwide. Its robust, enterprise-level SaaS platform BLUETM enables more than 100,000 users and 3,500 companies worldwide to work smarter every day with automated workflow, online proofing, digital asset library, and additional modules.

Discover more about BLUE Software, the leading SaaS Brand Lifecycle Management.