POLICY :: RFID :: What is at Stake :: Technical Standards

Technical Standards

Technical Standards are important to ensure the seamless functioning of RFID throughout the world in terms of frequencies, data structures and security mechanisms. In some cases, such as the construction industry, RFID tags will stay for years. Therefore standards have to provide space for future development.

European intergovernmental standardisation bodies like the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) or the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) support the development of international standards for automatic identification and data capture technologies.

They have developed specific standards for RFID operating at Ultra High Frequencies (UHF) as well as generic Short Range Devices (SRD) standards for Low Frequencies (LF), High Frequencies (HF) and microwave equipment which can be used for RFID.

In addition, the European Commission encourages these intergovernmental standardisation bodies, in co-operation with relevant industry forums and consortia, to ensure that international and national standards in Europe meet the European Union's requirements.

In its international dialogues with the USA, China, Korea and Japan, the European Commission wants to ascertain the need for co-operation on standards development for the implementation of RFID in certain sectors such as the security of containers, counterfeiting, air transport and pharmaceutical goods.