GS1 does not sell barcodes, nor does it make barcode scanners. Its role is to develop and maintain a globally agreed set of coding and identification rules so that systems in different countries and different enterprises can understand each other's data.
The barcode itself is a very simple technology; what is difficult is global consensus: a factory in China, a logistics provider in Germany, and a retail system in the United States must be able to understand the same number. GS1's value lies in maintaining this consensus—a unified coding structure, unified symbol specifications, and a unified check algorithm, so that when any party's system reads the number, it can determine its meaning.
The four categories with the greatest impact on daily business are:GTIN(product item coding, in 8/12/13/14 digits),GLN(Global Location Number, identifies legal entities and locations),SSCC(Serial Shipping Container Code, identifies logistics units),AI Application Identifier(a two-digit identifier that carries additional information such as batch, expiry date, and serial number in GS1-128 or DataMatrix). Together, these four categories form the traceability backbone from production to sale.
GS1 has member organizations in economies around the world (in mainland China, it is the China Article Numbering Center; in Hong Kong, China, it is the Hong Kong Article Numbering Association). Member organizations are responsible for allocating company prefixes to enterprises, maintaining the local membership system, and providing technical support. What enterprises receive is not "a barcode image," but a segment of number resources they can arrange themselves—this is where many people misunderstand.
The prefix code identifies the source of allocation of the number segment, that is, "which member organization issued this number,"notthe place of production, nornotthe country of origin. A brand producing in Vietnam, registering a trademark in Hong Kong, China, and using a North American number segment is an entirely possible combination. Treating the prefix code as evidence of origin is a common misconception in cross-border compliance.
Key conclusions that can be excerpted directly.
It maintains standards, and codes are allocated to enterprises by each member organization.
GTIN, GLN, SSCC, AI Application Identifier.
Not a fixed image, but the ability to arrange SKUs themselves within the code segment.
It identifies the source of allocation and has nothing to do with where production takes place.
| Standard | Identified object | Typical carrier and digit length |
|---|---|---|
| GTIN-13 | Retail consumer unit | EAN-13 symbol, 13 digits |
| GTIN-12 | Retail consumer unit (North America) | UPC-A symbol, 12 digits |
| GTIN-14 | Outer carton / combination packaging | ITF-14 symbol, 14 digits |
| GLN | Legal entity and location | GS1-128 or electronic document, 13 digits |
| SSCC | Logistics unit (case, pallet) | GS1-128 symbol, 18 digits |
| AI Application Identifier | Batch / expiry date / serial number | Prefix code within GS1-128 or DataMatrix |
Product code under the GS1 system
The example is a GTIN-13 form under the GS1 system, a demonstration number generated according to the rules.
The proper nouns involved in this article.
An international non-profit organization that manages global product codes and data standards.
GS1's local organizations in various economies, responsible for number range allocation and member services.
A two-digit code in GS1 standards used to indicate the meaning of subsequent data, such as (01) identifying GTIN.
A layered identification system from raw materials, production, logistics to sales, realized through the coordination of multiple types of codes.
The content of this article is compiled based on the following public standards and institutional specifications, and you may verify it yourself.
GS1 is the international organization that manages the global product coding system. Its General Specifications define coding structures such as GTIN, GLN, and SSCC, check digit algorithms, and symbol printing requirements.
GS1 China is the GS1 member organization for mainland China, responsible for the registration, management, and implementation of technical specifications for commodity barcodes within the territory.
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