|
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Introduction
Frequently Asked Questions
Application
Process
Currently Certified Organizations
Introduction
Industry-wide
standard methods for directing the transport and identifying the
contents of shipping containers are critical to the efficient operation
of the U.S. book supply chain. In keeping with its over 30 year history
of leadership in establishing such standards, the Book Industry Study
Group has prepared Guidelines
for Shipping Container Labeling
("Guidelines"). The Guidelines provide specifications for a standard
Shipping Label and a standard Product Label and guidance on how these
labels should be prepared and used.
To
encourage and support widespread adoption of the recommended Product
Label within the Guidelines, BISG has established
a Product Label Certification Program ("PLCP").
Please
note that at this time BISG does not propose to introduce a
certification program for the standard Shipping Label. The widely
varying needs of trading partners and service suppliers demand
considerable flexibility in how Shipping Labels are formatted, making
the development of a certification program at this point very complex.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Who
manages the program?
Who
is eligible to apply for certification?
Do
I have to be a BISG member to apply for certification?
How
does the program work?
What
happens if my Product Label is found not to be compliant?
What
happens if my Product Label is found to be compliant?
How
long does certification last?
How
much is the program fee?
Are
special considerations made for organizations that reship cartons?
Where
can I find more information about the program?
Who
manages the program?
The Product Label Certification Program (PLCP) is
managed by the BISG office. In the administration of the program, BISG
is assisted by a number of experienced and qualified Certification
Agencies who determine whether the content and technical
characteristics of the Product Label bar codes are in compliance with
BISG and GS1 guidelines.
Current
PLCP Certification Agencies include:
Return
to FAQ
Who
is eligible to apply for certification?
Any originator of single title cartons for
distribution through the book industry supply chain may apply to the
Product Label Certification Program. Organizations that produce Product
Labels in more than one location must submit samples from all locations
to achieve certification under the program.
Return
to FAQ
Do
I have to be a BISG member to apply for certification?
No. BISG membership is encouraged for all applicants, but is not a
requirement of the Product Label Certification Program.
Return
to FAQ
How
does the program work?
In order to achieve certification under the program, four sets of two
sample labels (eight labels total) must be submitted to the BISG office
along with a program fee and a certification application. Detailed
information about the application process can be found
here.
Product Labels submitted for certification under the program will be
examined for format and content compliance based on the recommendations
contained in BISG’s Guidelines for Shipping
Container Labeling.
Based on
the results of the evaluation, the BISG office will either issue a
Certificate of Compliance and supporting material or provide detailed
feedback on the non-conforming aspects of the label along with a
recommendation that the applicant resubmit for certification.
Return
to FAQ
What
happens if my Product Labels are found to be
non-compliant?
Applicants whose Product Labels are found to be non-compliant will
receive from the BISG office an electronic copy of the submitted labels
with an itemized breakdown of non-compliance issues. The applicant will
also receive support documentation such as verification scan reports
and links or references to specific sections of the Guidelines for Shipping
Container Labeling to
assist in making corrections and to help resubmit the Product Labels
for successful certification.
Applicants will have 30 days to correct
non-compliant Product Labels and resubmit them for certification using
the same program fee and certification application. A third submission
will require a new application and program fee.
Return
to FAQ
What
happens if my Product Labels are found to be compliant?
Applicants whose Product Labels are found to be compliant will receive
from the BISG office a Certificate of Compliance in both printed and
electronic form. The applicant will also be supplied with electronic
copies of the certified labels to be shared with trading partners. This
will give trading partners a point of reference in the event that
non-compliant Product Labels are supplied in the future. Finally, all
compliant companies will receive logo placement on the BISG website
along with links to PDF copies of the labels used in the certification
process.
Return
to FAQ
How
long does certification last?
Any Product Label that is certified under the Product Label
Certification Program retains its certification until such time as
changes are made to hardware or software that affect the quality of the
Product Label and/or the BISG office receives two separate complaints
from trading partners related to non-compliant labels. In either case,
the organization will be deemed to have fallen into non-compliance with
the Product Label Certification Program and must reapply for
certification.
If
an applicant becomes non-compliant at any time following successful
certification, reapplication will require the submission of a new
application and program fee.
Return
to FAQ
How
much is the program fee?
The latest fee structure for the Product Lable Certification Program
can be found within the application process information
here.
Are special
considerations made for organizations that reship cartons?
Yes.
Organizations along the supply chain that reship cartons may use
Certificates of Compliance furnished to them by the label originator to
determine that incoming Product Labels have been certified and to
provide certification assurance to later recipients.
Return
to FAQ
Where
can I find more information about the program?
Detailed instructions for submitting Product Labels under the program
can be found
here.
The
latest version of BISG’s Guidelines for Shipping
Container Labeling can be found here.
You may
contact the BISG office for further information by calling 646-336-7141
or emailing info@bisg.org.
Return
to FAQ
Currently
Certified Organizations
The following organizations
have been successfully certified through BISG's Product Label
Certification Program.
|
