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Our History

Our history

In Mauritius, the creation of GS1 Barcodes dates back to 1994 thanks to the work of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). Having foreseen the emergence of hypermarkets on the island, the institution then entered into fruitful negotiations with the European Article Numbering (EAN) International, an organization based in Brussels. This is how she became, the same year, the local representative, thus leading to the creation of EAN Mauritius, now known as GS1 Mauritius.

For more than 25 years, GS1 Mauritius has been issuing barcodes using the country code (609), thus contributing to the economic development of the country by enabling economic operators in important business sectors, such as trade and health, to access new markets. In addition to local supermarkets and hypermarkets, several products have thus been exported to foreign markets.

EAN Mauritius was formed
70 Prefixes were allocated

First company in Healthcare sector applies for a Global Company Prefix

EAN Mauritius issues Variable Product Code to companies requiring a code for products which vary in weight

Workshop on 'La codification des produits et l’utilisation des standards EAN.UCC' in collaboration with Gencod EAN France

List of all members sent to GEPIR, with quarterly updates up to now
EAN Mauritius undergoes rebranding to GS1 Mauritius in line with global initiative to reflect one global organisation, one global system and one global standard
First company in Apparel sector applies for a Global Company Prefix

Introduction of a smaller fee for companies having an Annual Turnover less than Rs 1M
First company in Construction sector applies for a Global Company Prefix

GS1 Mauritius organises a series of activities in collaboration with GS1 South Africa, namely a workshop on 'GS1 Standards and Product Traceability' and on-site visits to companies

First company in Agricultural sector applying for a Global Company Prefix
First UPC Code allocated

Consolidation of Technical Support by introducing GS1 Mauritius own technical documents
Due its success in 2009, GS1 Mauritius again collaborates with GS1 South Africa to organise a series of activities comprising of a workshop on 'GS1 Standards and Product Traceability' and on-site visits to companies

GS1 Mauritius has its first Mauritius Qualifications Authority (MQA) Approved Trainer in GS1 Standards, a premier in Mauritius
Introduction of MQA Approved Training: 'Basic Principles of GS1 and Barcoding', delivered on a monthly basis

Develop close collaboration with supermarkets to ensure efficient adoption of GS1 Standards in the retail supply chain

Creation of a Retail Committee comprising of supermarkets

Introduction of a Membership Certificate - the proof that the member is the unique authorised licensee of the barcodes allocated to him
A second staff of GS1 Mauritius is accredited as Trainer in GS1 Standards by MQA
Undertake Marketing Campaigns to create awareness on GS1 Barcodes and Endless Opportunities with GS1 Standards
Assistance to members to assign their Global Location Numbers, as a first step to Traceability

Launch of GS1 Mauritius website as per the GS1 Branding
Introduction of Bespoke training as per client's requirements
Incorporation of GS1(MAURITIUS) LTD as a separate legal entity on 16th November 2016

1st Board of Directors constituted for GS1(MAURITIUS) Ltd
Fee structure reviewed to better cater for MSMEs
Introduction of Consultancy Services
Marketing Campaigns extended to Healthcare operators

GS1 Mauritius collaborated with SME Mauritius and SFWF, which provide financial schemes to SMEs to acquire GS1 Barcodes
GS1 Mauritius joined the GS1 Sub Sahara Committee
Special Variable Measure reserved for retailers, supermarkets and hypermarkets

GS1 Mauritius celebrates its Silver Jubilee by organising several events
The Retail Committee revamped
Brochures and corporate video revamped to showcase all opportunities
Extension of collaboration with public authorities to also support Rodriguans SMEs

Dr Yousouf Ismaël is appointed as Director and Chief Executive Officer
Mrs Namita Jagarnath Hardowar is the new Chairperson
New directors join GS1 Mauritius
Since March 2020, GS1 Mauritius provides its services online due to COVID-19

Fixed Asset Management Solution

MCCI collaborated with GS1 Mauritius to put in place a Fixed Asset Mgt solution that keeps track of all the assets in the office.

GS1 Mauritius hosted the MEMA Regional Forum
GS1 Mauritius Website Revamp
E-CRM
Online Membership Application

Dr. Drishtysingh Ramdenee is appointed as Director and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Sonny Wong Lun Sang is the new Chairperson
Launch of GS1 Activate and Verified by GS1

30 years of GS1 Mauritius
Awareness campaign at the Cooperatives Division of the Ministry of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives
Budget Measures 2024; new barcoding schemes
Launch of Track2Asset and DocuChek
Gift Ceremony for first 30 SMEs of the year
Start Up and Mentoring Programme for Women Entrepreneurs