Meat producers and processors considering QR codes powered by GS1 need to assess how packaging, production data, printing and inspection will work together on the line.

Domino’s mini-guide to QR codes in the meat industry provides a practical checklist for that process. For manufacturers across Ireland and Northern Ireland, it offers a useful starting point for understanding what their existing setup can support and where further testing or changes may be needed.

Why QR codes matter for meat packaging

A QR code powered by GS1 can combine a product’s Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) with additional information, such as a batch number and expiry or best-before date, using the appropriate GS1 data structure.

For meat products, making that information available in a scannable code can support traceability and give retailers better visibility of remaining shelf life. Where retail systems are configured to use the data, it can also support stock rotation, automated markdowns and the prevention of expired-product sales.

Those benefits depend on accurate information being generated, printed and read consistently throughout the process.

Six areas to review before implementation

1. Coding equipment and print performance

Check whether your current coding system can produce the required QR code, handle GS1 Digital Link data and update variable information during production.

The assessment should include the packaging surface, available print area and normal operating speed. Sample testing helps establish whether the equipment can deliver consistent results in your application.

2. Production data and connectivity

Identify where the product, batch and date information comes from and how it reaches the printer. This may involve production software, line controls or an ERP system, depending on your setup.

The encoded information should correspond with the production order and the human-readable information on the pack. Product changeovers and date changes also need controlled procedures.

3. Packaging design and product handling

Review the space available for the code, its position, contrast and the clear area around it.

Printed film, labels and trays each present different practical considerations. Packaging movement, surface condition and condensation can affect printing, so testing should use your actual packaging under representative production conditions.

4. Inspection and quality control

Plan how you will check that the code is present, readable and contains the correct information.

Review the role of in-line inspection, barcode grading where required, and the response to a failed code. That response may include an operator alert, product rejection or a line stop, depending on the application.

A successful phone scan alone does not establish consistent production performance.

5. Retailer and downstream compatibility

Confirm the data content, code format and scanning requirements with the relevant retailer or supply chain partner.

The receiving systems need to interpret and use the information correctly. Check compatibility as part of a pilot, and agree packaging changes with the relevant trading partners.

6. Training, ownership and operating procedures

Bring production, engineering, quality, IT and packaging colleagues into the project early, with a clear person responsible for coordinating it.

Operators need practical procedures for setting up jobs, checking codes, managing changeovers and responding to faults. A pilot on one production line can help identify issues before a wider rollout.

Use the guide to start the conversation

Domino’s mini-guide brings these six technical areas together in a checklist that teams can work through jointly. It also summarises wider considerations for scaling adoption, drawing on ECR Retail Loss research.

Use it to identify the questions you can already answer and the areas that need investigation. Agreeing retailer requirements and testing a representative product gives the project a clear starting point.

Request a QR Readiness Review from Codico

Codico is a GS1 Ireland Gold Partner and the official Domino distributor for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Through a QR Readiness Review, we can assess your packaging, current coding equipment, production speeds, data requirements and existing inspection arrangements. From there, we can identify suitable next steps, including sample testing, integration requirements and a solution proposal where changes are needed.

The review can begin with one product and one production line. A packaging sample or clear photograph, details of the current printer and an approximate line speed provide a useful starting point.