How to Apply RFID in Australia

Much of the information in this document is based on Sun Microsystem's Technical White Paper referenced below.

Australian Standards
Australian Compliance
How to Comply
Certification Authorities
Standards Bodies
Regulatory
Industry Associations
Research
Australian research organisations
Overseas research organisations
Australian research papers

 Australian Standards
Standards Australia is the leading authority for Australian industry. It is internationally renowned for its role in the development of standards and is recognized by the Government as the peak, non-government standards body in Australia. Standards Australia is dedicated to setting benchmarks to meet the growing expectations of the Australian community, industry and government. It remains committed to enhancing the social, environmental and economic well-being of all Australians. Standards Australia ensures the effective development of standards and recognition of other standardization bodies by providing an active forum for discussion, debate and consensus. www.standards.org.au

For more detailed information on industry and technical standards visit the Standards page.


Australian Compliance
Australian regulation is controlled by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, radiocommunications, telecommunications and online content.
ACMA’s responsibilities include:
  • promoting self-regulation and competition in the telecommunications industry, while protecting consumers and other users
  • fostering an environment in which electronic media respect community standards and responds to audience and user needs
  • managing access to the radiofrequency spectrum, including the broadcasting services bands
  • representing Australia’s communications and broadcasting interests internationally.
ACMA has central offices in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney plus regional offices and operational centres throughout all states and territories of Australia.  Visit  www.acma.gov.au  for more information.


The following table was extracted from the “Radio communications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2000” (LIPD)

Item Class of Transmitter  Permitted operating frequency band (MHz) (Lower Limits exclusive, upper limit inclusive) Maximum EIRP
 4 All transmitters  0.07 - 0.16  3 µW
 17 All transmitters   433.05 - 434.79  25mW
 30 Radiofrequency identification transmitters  1. 1.77–2.17
2. 2.93–3.58
3. 7.2–10.01
100 pW 
 31 Radiofrequency identification transmitters  1. 13.553–13.567
2. 918–926
3. 2400–2450
4. 5725–5795
5. 5815–5875
6. 24000–24250		 1 W
 32 Radiofrequency identification transmitters  5795–5815  2 W

 

How to Comply
Vendors wishing to supply RFID equipment into the Australian marketplace will need to comply with the ACMA. Licences issued by ACMA include apparatus licences, class licences and spectrum licences to use frequencies in the radiofrequency spectrum, licences to provide broadcasting services and carrier licences for telecommunications services.

Radiocommunications licences underpin services that support everyday life, such as mobile phones, broadcasting services, wireless local area networks, GPS systems and two-way radios.

Through arrangements with outside organisations, ACMA is responsible for the licensing of amateur radio operators and marine radio operators.
ACMA also manages the system of class licences that authorises users of specified parts of spectrum to operate on a shared, uncoordinated basis. Low power open narrowcasting services are also managed by ACMA. These deliver limited range FM radio niche services.
The organisation is also responsible for compliance with radiocommunications licensing requirements and investigating complaints of interference to radiocommunications services. Please see the web site for more details.
GS1 in now charge of the license:

During the Impetus 2005 conference in Melbourne in July 2005, ACMA awarded GS1 Australia an experimental license that raised the allowable radiated power of RFID UHF readers to 4 watts.

GS1 Australia (formerly known as EAN Australia) is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for the local development of RFID standards.

The license concerns the 920-926 MHz segment for RFID readers or interrogators. Not only GS1 Australia is now in charge of regulating and monitoring any interference with existing RF services (eg Vodafone’s 900 MHz GSM network) but most importantly it is responsible for granting authorisation to individual sites to operate under its license.

GS1 Australia is the first GS1 International subsidiary who has been given such a responsibility. However this licence has been awarded on a temporary basis, running until 12 July 2006. The possibility of extending this for a further year remains if needed. GS1 is keeping a database of each company and site that has been granted permission to use 4-watt readers. This database will be used to help show whether or not readers interfere with other types of nearby radio devices.

Next steps:

-  ACMA could issue a full class license for 4-watt readers operating at 920-926 MHz in 2007.
-  The next issue for GS1 will be data synchronisation, allowing information to be shared on a common base catalogue and described to other parties on a supply chain.

Application for the authorisation to operate under GS1 4 watt licence can be made on GS1 website, click here for direct access.


Certification Authorities

->Standards Bodies

(1) EPC Global
EPCglobal is leading the development of industry-driven standards for the Electronic Product Code™ (EPC) to support the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in today’s fast-moving, information rich trading networks. EPCglobal is a member-driven organisation comprised of leading firms and industries focused on creating global standards for the EPCglobal Network™. Their goal is to increase visibility and efficiency throughout the supply chain and higher quality information flow between companies and its key trading partners.

(2) International Standards Organisation
ISO. A network of national standards institutes from 146 countries working in partnership with international organizations, governments, industry, business and consumer representatives. A bridge between public and private sectors.


(3) Standards Australia
Standards Australia is a not-for-profit organization and is an internationally recognised leader in the facilitation of standardization solutions. Through the collective expertise of stakeholders it works to meet the community's expectations for a safe and sustainable environment and to enhance Australia's economic efficiency and international competitiveness

->Regulatory

Australian Communications and Media Authority
The ACA manages the radiofrequency spectrum in Australia.



Industry Associations

(1) Automatic Data Capture Australia
The Automatic Data Capture Australia (ADCA) is the Australian peak industry body representing specialist companies that manufacture, distribute and consult in all aspects of the automatic data capture industry including RFID. It represents hardware, software and peripherals manufacturers and suppliers, consultants and system integrators in ADC technologies.

The ADCA is a forum of the Australian Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers’ Association


(2) Australian Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers’ Association
AEEMA is the leading industry body representing Australia's information and communication technology (ICT), electronics and electrical manufacturing industries. AEEMA members supply infrastructure, products and manufacturing-related services to Australian and world markets.


(3) Australian Retailers Association RFID web site
This website is the home of the RFID in Retail Consumer Code of Practice. This website will provide information and updates regarding the development of the RFID in Retail Consumer Code.


(4) Automotive Industry Action Group
The AIAG has 1,600 member companies include North American, European and Asia-Pacific OEMs and suppliers to the automotive industry with combined annual sales of more than $850 billion. A not-for-profit association, AIAG's primary goals are to reduce cost and complexity within the automotive supply chain and to improve speed-to-market, product quality, employee health-and-safety and the environment.


(5) EuroTag
EuroTag is the key forum in Europe RFID/tag technology, providing its members with a comprehensive range of educative and informational facilities. EuroTag brings to its membership the leading suppliers of related components and services, as well as companies considering the deployment of tags in their own businesses. EuroTag serves its members through an active website supported by regular meetings and Working Group sessions. Taglines forms EuroTag's flagship publication.



Research Organisations


-> Australian Research Organisations

(1) CSIRO
The CSIRO capabilities in the application of RFID include:
  • Rapid design and deployment of RFID systems that are specific to end-users’ complex processes and diverse environments, such as deploying RFID systems on or near metal surfaces
  • Ongoing support to end-users in adopting new RFID technologies and upgrading their existing RFID systems
  • Providing support systems for end-users to maximize the effectiveness of adopting RFID technologies
  • Developing and implementing middleware systems to manage the massive data generated in the RFID system, and integrating the RFID system with various back-end enterprise systems
  • Support to end-users in maintaining and managing RFID systems
  • Developing and implementing real-time production and supply chain management systems, which facilitate real-time production scheduling and control, real-time activity-based costing, real-time inventory management, real-time predictive quality management and real-time process efficiency gain analysis

(2) Monash University

(3) Adelaide University (Auto ID-Lab @ Adelaide)
  • A list of  Auto-ID Lab research papers are available here.
  • Tutorial Papers are available here.

(4) The Australian Sheep Industry Co-operative Ressearch Centre (CRC)


-> Overseas Research Organisations & Laboratories

(1) RFID Alliance Lab
The University of Kansas Center for Research's Information and Telecommunication Technology Center (ITTC) has teamed with Rush Tracking Systems, a Kansas City based RFID systems integrator, and RFID Journal, a leading media company, to create the RFID Alliance Lab


-> Research Papers – Australian

(1) Summary of Field Studies Evaluating the Efficacy of Bio-Bond®, a Porous Polymer Sheath, on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Transponders to Prevent Migration from a Known Implant Site

(2) A Study of Factors Affecting the Design of EPC Antennas & Readers for Supermarket Shelves - Peter Cole (PDF)
 
(3) Coupling Relations in RFID Systems - Peter Cole, Damith Ranasinghe, Behnam Jamali (PDF)

(4) Coupling Relations in RFID Systems II: Practical Performance Measurements
Peter Cole, Damith Ranasinghe, Behnam Jamali (PDF)

(5) Brief Comparison of Different Rectifier Structures Phase I Draft
Zheng Zhu, Behnam Jamali, Peter Cole (PDF)

(6) Brief Comparison of Different Rectifier Structures Phase II Draft
Zheng Zhu, Behnam Jamali, Peter Cole (PDF)

(7) Research Note no. 60 2003–04: Where are you now? Location detection systems and personal privacy  (PDF)

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