The new standard, an amendment to ISO 18000 6 part C, is for all devices operating in the 860MHz to 960MHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medicinal) band.

Some RFID readers, tags and circuits have already been certified as Gen2 compliant by EPCglobal and are available now.

GS1 is the Australian governing body of the EPC global standards. Maria Palazzolo, CEO of GS1 Australia, said many Australian business are already using Gen2 protocols in RFID trials.

"We have already begun using Gen2 protocol with Australian business, including the recent frozen food trials with Patties Foods and Montague," Palazzolo said.

"We expect this announcement to significantly impact on the uptake of EPC/RFID supply chain management solutions among Australian businesses and their trading partners."