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TechnologyGS1

GS1

Quick answer

The global organization managing trade identification standards: GTIN (EAN), GLN, SSCC, EANCOM.

Key takeaways

  • GTIN-13 (EAN-13) - product code (13 digits), placed on packaging
  • GTIN-14 (DUN-14) - logistics unit code (case, carton, standard pallet)
  • GLN - location identifier (HQ, warehouse, store) - 13 digits
  • SSCC - unique transport unit code (specific pallet) - 18 digits

What GS1 is

GS1 is the non-profit body that administers global trade identification standards: GTIN/EAN (product code), GLN (location code), SSCC (logistics unit code), EANCOM (an EDIFACT subset). Each country has a local chapter (GS1 Romania, GS1 UK, etc.) issuing company prefixes.

Why it matters for any B2B supplier

Without valid GS1 codes (GTIN on product, GLN on delivery location, SSCC on pallet) you cannot run clean EDI with a modern retailer. Carrefour, Auchan, Lidl, Kaufland reject EDI messages with non-GS1 or unqualified codes.

The four essential identifiers

  • GTIN-13 (EAN-13) - product code (13 digits), placed on packaging
  • GTIN-14 (DUN-14) - logistics unit code (case, carton, standard pallet)
  • GLN - location identifier (HQ, warehouse, store) - 13 digits
  • SSCC - unique transport unit code (specific pallet) - 18 digits

GS1-128 logistics labels

The GS1-128 standard (formerly UCC/EAN-128) is the barcode format used on the pallet label, with Application Identifiers (AI) encoding SSCC (00), GTIN (01), batch (10), expiry (15), quantity (37).

How to obtain a GS1 code

  • Membership in your local GS1 chapter (annual fee scaled to turnover)
  • You receive a company prefix
  • You generate internally the rest of the codes (product GTINs, pallet SSCCs)
  • You catalogue products into GDSN (Global Data Synchronisation Network) so retailers can ingest them

Last updated:

Frequently asked

Can I use a made-up EAN code?+

No. Invented codes work internally but get rejected by retailers and cause global collisions (the same code in use by another real company in another country).

Difference between GTIN-13 and GTIN-14?+

GTIN-13 = individual trade unit (single piece). GTIN-14 = grouping unit (case of 12, standard pallet) with an indicator prefix (1-9).

Is GS1 also needed for e-commerce?+

For marketplaces (Amazon, eMAG) and many online retailers, yes - GTIN is mandatory to be listed in the official catalogue.

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Related terms

Technology

GLN (Global Location Number)

13-digit GS1 code uniquely identifying a location (HQ, warehouse, store, delivery dock).

Logistics

SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code)

Unique 18-digit code identifying an individual transport unit - pallet, case, container.

Technology

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)

Global product identification code - base for EAN-13, UPC, marketplaces.

Technology

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)

Structured exchange of commercial documents between B2B partners, without emails or manual data entry.