04-06-2012, 04:34 PM
OECD Policy Guidance on Radio Frequency Identification
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Preface
The use of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technologies1 is growing. Many different RFID applications are implemented in various sectors, and used for very different purposes. RFID is now at a stage where there are potentially large benefits from wider application but barriers remain, warranting a policy framework to enhance business and consumer benefits while effectively addressing security and privacy issues. From a public policy perspective, such a framework should be supportive, technology neutral encompassing all RFID technologies and provide the basis to protect citizens from current and future negative impacts of the technologies. These policy principles address barriers to wider application of RFID. They draw on policy discussions and analytical studies on RFID carried out by the OECD from 2005 to 2007.
Principles
Support for R&D and new applications
Government support and incentives should focus on R&D for generic RFID-related technologies and applications.
Many of the technological areas underlying RFID are still being developed and there are wide economic benefits to be gained from continued research in areas critical to RFID development, including new materials, and new reading technologies that can be used at greater distances and that can overcome interference and operate in hostile environments. There are social benefits from continued research on issues related to RFID use in the healthcare or environmental areas e.g. interference with other medical devices, impact of electromagnetic fields on individuals, or the effect tags will have on recycling practices. Further efforts to research and develop cost-effective technical measures embedding security and privacy protections in RFID systems should also be encouraged (see Principle 9).
Technological neutrality
Government policies to encourage the use and expand the benefits of RFID should be technology-neutral.
RFID technologies and applications are highly diverse and evolving rapidly. RFID technologies vary in terms of capabilities (e.g. frequency range, battery and memory capacity, size). Individual RFID applications involve a wide range of different operations and industry sectors. Attempts to focus support efforts on particular technologies or applications may diminish resources for other promising avenues and distort markets for components and equipments. Government policies to foster the use and expand the benefits of RFID should not favour one technology or application over another.
Governments as model users
As developers and users of RFID for public purposes, governments should share their experience and good practices as widely as possible.
Governments are developing innovative RFID applications in areas ranging from tracking art works and library and museum stocks to improved airport management and defence applications. Their experience and good practices in developing such applications can benefit other actors and should be shared as widely as possible to maximise the benefits from government investments and help diffusion of the technology.
Awareness and information
Governments should encourage initiatives to help raise awareness of the benefits and challenges of RFID and encourage sharing of information on large-scale pilots and demonstration .
[attachment=30]
Preface
The use of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technologies1 is growing. Many different RFID applications are implemented in various sectors, and used for very different purposes. RFID is now at a stage where there are potentially large benefits from wider application but barriers remain, warranting a policy framework to enhance business and consumer benefits while effectively addressing security and privacy issues. From a public policy perspective, such a framework should be supportive, technology neutral encompassing all RFID technologies and provide the basis to protect citizens from current and future negative impacts of the technologies. These policy principles address barriers to wider application of RFID. They draw on policy discussions and analytical studies on RFID carried out by the OECD from 2005 to 2007.
Principles
Support for R&D and new applications
Government support and incentives should focus on R&D for generic RFID-related technologies and applications.
Many of the technological areas underlying RFID are still being developed and there are wide economic benefits to be gained from continued research in areas critical to RFID development, including new materials, and new reading technologies that can be used at greater distances and that can overcome interference and operate in hostile environments. There are social benefits from continued research on issues related to RFID use in the healthcare or environmental areas e.g. interference with other medical devices, impact of electromagnetic fields on individuals, or the effect tags will have on recycling practices. Further efforts to research and develop cost-effective technical measures embedding security and privacy protections in RFID systems should also be encouraged (see Principle 9).
Technological neutrality
Government policies to encourage the use and expand the benefits of RFID should be technology-neutral.
RFID technologies and applications are highly diverse and evolving rapidly. RFID technologies vary in terms of capabilities (e.g. frequency range, battery and memory capacity, size). Individual RFID applications involve a wide range of different operations and industry sectors. Attempts to focus support efforts on particular technologies or applications may diminish resources for other promising avenues and distort markets for components and equipments. Government policies to foster the use and expand the benefits of RFID should not favour one technology or application over another.
Governments as model users
As developers and users of RFID for public purposes, governments should share their experience and good practices as widely as possible.
Governments are developing innovative RFID applications in areas ranging from tracking art works and library and museum stocks to improved airport management and defence applications. Their experience and good practices in developing such applications can benefit other actors and should be shared as widely as possible to maximise the benefits from government investments and help diffusion of the technology.
Awareness and information
Governments should encourage initiatives to help raise awareness of the benefits and challenges of RFID and encourage sharing of information on large-scale pilots and demonstration .