Case Date Coding

As the grocery and foodservice sectors strive to minimize waste and reduce costs, it is increasingly important to have easy access to key dates relating to food products for managing stock rotation.

Recognizing this need, key sector organizations in Canada have come together and agreed on an industry-wide standard relating to case date coding – so that specific date information is included on all cases within the supply chain.

The Industry Implementation Protocol for Case Date Coding is intended to optimize product freshness through clear communication of key dates on products cases and is endorsed by

Read the Implementation Protocol for Case Date Coding

The Protocol took effect for frozen and dairy products on January 1, 2012. The Protocol may be expanded in the future to include additional categories.

Implementation of this Protocol is voluntary and should be discussed between individual trading partners. By adopting the Protocol, industry:

• Agrees to use the defined date standard formats and definitions outlined in the Protocol.
• Acknowledges that the date standard format expressed in the Protocol are the industry standard.

GS1 Canada can assist implementation by providing education and direction on case date coding standards.