To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the Home Office chipping of goods initiative launched in March 2000. [HL1674]

The chipping of goods programme was completed by the Home Office in October 2004. The programme provided compelling evidence of the commercial benefits to business of tagging technology, enabling tighter control of the supply chain and stock as well as reducing opportunities for crime. The use of electronic tags by industry and commerce has now become common, both in the supply chain and to provide in-store security for products.