Legal Definitions - batch number

A batch number is a unique identifying code assigned to a specific group or quantity of products that were manufactured, processed, or produced under similar conditions during a single production run. This number allows manufacturers to track and identify all items within that particular group, which is crucial for quality control, inventory management, and especially for product recalls if an issue is discovered.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of a batch number:

• Pharmaceuticals: Imagine a pharmaceutical company producing a common over-the-counter pain reliever. All tablets manufactured on a particular day, using the same ingredients and equipment, would be assigned a single batch number. If, after distribution, a quality control check reveals that a specific ingredient used in that production run was contaminated, the company can use the batch number to identify and recall all packages of the medication produced within that exact batch, preventing potential harm to consumers.

  This illustrates how a batch number enables precise identification and targeted action for products manufactured under identical conditions.

• Food Products: Consider a dairy farm bottling milk. All milk processed and bottled from a single tanker load on a specific morning might share the same batch number. If a customer later reports that their milk from that day spoiled prematurely, the dairy can trace the batch number to pinpoint the exact source of the milk, investigate the processing conditions for that specific run, and determine if a wider recall for that particular batch is necessary.

  This example demonstrates the batch number's role in tracing food products back to their origin for safety and quality assurance.

• Consumer Electronics: A company manufacturing a new line of smartwatches might assign a batch number to all units assembled on a particular production line during a specific week. If, several months later, a common defect related to battery performance is reported by users, the batch number helps the manufacturer identify which specific devices are likely affected. This allows them to issue targeted firmware updates or offer warranty replacements only for the watches from the identified faulty batch, rather than recalling all smartwatches ever produced.

  Here, the batch number facilitates efficient problem-solving and customer support by narrowing down the scope of potentially affected products.