NEW YORK -- Gillette Co. has joined the Consumer Products Manufacturing Association (CPMA) as a charter member and will participate on its board of directors and executive committee.

According to a CPMA spokesman, the addition of Gillette to the association will bring broadened support and greater momentum to its goal of developing a universal security tag standard for packaged goods.

Members of CPMA's current board of directors -- Larry Kellam of Procter & Gamble Co., Pat Rizzotto of Johnson & Johnson and Victor Wasilov of Eastman Kodak Co. -- have expressed pleasure at Gillette's decision to join the alliance.

"The costs associated ...