Autumn 2006

A European Union CE-approved standard for RFID (radio frequency identification) seems to be on the way. Development is being coordinated by an initiative called the EU-project CE RFID, whose subtitle is the lengthy phrase "Coordinating European Efforts for Promoting the European RFID Value Chain". Its web site is www.rfid-in-action.eu.

This body describes itself as "a sustainable network of RFID technology providers, vendors and users", and says it supports the European Commission to increase political awareness and intensify activities for the enhancement of RFID technology.

A series of meetings has been arranged to thrash out some of the details. The first, on RFID radio regulations, was held in September, and two others will follow. These are on RFID data and network standards (November 17, 2006 in Munich) and RFID application standards (January 19, 2007 in Graz, Austria.

The objective is to analyse the current situation and encourage the harmonisation of RFID frequencies and the standardisation of communication and data standards in Europe.

Current members of CE RFID are Metro Group Information Technology, AIDA Centre, Deutsche Post World Net, EADS, FEIG ELECTRONIC, Philips, RF-iT Solutions, Siemens, Tyco Fire & Security ADT, UPM Rafsec, and VDI/VDE-IT.