Overview of the GTIN Family
GTIN is an umbrella term used to describe the entire family of EAN/UCC data structures and encompasses all levels of packing, including the identification of individual products, cases and pallets.
- GTIN is only a term:
- GTIN does not change existing standards.
- The UPC does not go away.
- North American manufacturers, for example, that apply the UCC-12 data structure and UPC symbol to their product will continue to do so.
GTIN supports a globally unique 14 digit number to identify Trade Items. The EAN/UCC-14, EAN/UCC-13, UCC-12, and EAN/UCC-8 are the four symbols that make up GTIN.
GTIN Family
Each of the four data structures provides unique numbers when right justified in a 14-digit database field:
- UCC-12 (U.P.C.) (Twelve Digits)
- EAN/UCC-13 (Thirteen Digits)
- EAN/UCC-8 (Eight Digits)
- EAN/UCC-14 (Fourteen Digits)
New Terminology:
Old Term |
New Term |
U.P.C. |
UCC-12 |
EAN-14 & SCC-14 |
EAN/UCC-14 |
EAN-13 |
EAN/UCC-13 |
EAN-8 |
EAN/UCC-8 |
Packaging Indicator |
Indicator digit |
Company Number |
EAN.UCC Company Prefix |
*for data structure only
|
GTIN Compliant Database:
In a GTIN compliant database, the EAN/UCC-8, UCC-12, EAN/UCC-13 and EAN/UCC-14 are stored as 14-digit numbers. For example:
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
EAN/UCC-8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
C |
UCC-12 |
0 |
0 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
C |
EAN/UCC-13 |
0 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
C |
EAN/UCC-14 |
I |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
C |
Where I is the Indicator digit.
GTIN Inside and Outside the Database:
The EAN/UCC-8, UCC-12, EAN/UCC-13 and EAN/UCC-14 continue to be 8, 12, 13 and 14 digits in length respectively. The only change is how they are stored in the database. For example:
GTIN Structure |
Number Example |
Database Storage |
EAN/UCC-8 |
20123451 |
00000020123451 |
UCC-12 |
614141005277 |
00614141005277 |
EAN/UCC-13 |
3439494949392 |
03439494949392 |
EAN/UCC-14 |
10614141000415 |
10614141000415 |
Assigning the GTIN:
- The manufacturer or brand owner determines how to assign GTINs.
- The receiver (retailer) relies on the manufacturer or brand owner to ensure uniqueness.
GTIN Assignment Methods for Different Packaging Levels:
There are 3 methods used to assign GTINs for different packaging levels:
Method 1: Additional Example of Common Base number
·
Item |
|
0 |
67123 |
55555 |
C |
·
Innerpack Item (15 Items) |
3 |
00 |
67123 |
55555 |
C |
·
Intermediate Pack (4 Innerpacks) |
5 |
00 |
67123 |
55555 |
C |
·
Masterpack (2 Intermediate Packs) |
7 |
00 |
67123 |
55555 |
C |
- Method Two: A unique or unrelated Item Reference numbers for higher levels of packaging are used, for example:
Method 2: GTINS with Unrelated Item Reference numbers
- Method Three: A combination of the Indicator and Item Reference for high levels of packaging is used, for example:
Method 3: Combination of Method 1 and Method 2
Review of Concepts:
- GTIN is the global name for trade item (product) identification.
- GTIN is a data structure not a symbology.
- GTIN requires a 14-digit file structure.
- GTIN family is made up of UCC-12, EAN/UCC-13, EAN/UCC-8 and EAN/UCC-14 symbols.
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