The Uniform Code Council (overseers of bar codes) is working out details of a new Electronic Product Code to replace the 25 year old technology. "while today's bar code can say only that it's affixed to a bar of Dial soap, the EPC will actually know which bar. Not to mention when and where the bar was manufactured, how many bars fit on a pallet for shipping, what to do if your kid eats a bar or two, how to best dispose of the packaging, and on and on."