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
    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)
    • Six digits representing the UCC Company Prefix
    • Five digits representing the Item Reference number
    • One digit representing the Check Digit
    • Offers up to 100,000 uniquely numbered items

      OR

    • Seven digits representing the UCC Company Prefix
    • Four digits representing the Item Reference number
    • One digit representing the Check Digit
    • Offers up to 10,000 uniquely numbered items

      OR

    • Eight digits representing the UCC Company Prefix
    • Three digits representing the Item Reference number
    • One digit representing the Check Digit
    • Offers up to 1,000 uniquely numbered items

      UCC-12 Barcode
      Example of UCC-12 Barcode

  • EAN/UCC-13 (Thirteen Digits)
    • Twelve digits containing the EAN.UCC Company Prefix and Item Reference number
    • One digit representing the Check Digit

      EAN-13 Barcode
      Example of EAN/UCC-13 Barcode

  • EAN/UCC-8 (Eight Digits)
    • Seven digits containing a EAN.UCC Company Prefix and Item Reference number
    • One digit representing the Check Digit

      EAN-8 Barcode
      Example of EAN/UCC-8 Barcode

  • EAN/UCC-14 (Fourteen Digits)
    • First digit representing the Indicator digit to indicate packaging level
    • Twelve digits containing the EAN/UCC Company Prefix and Item Reference number
    • One digit representing the Check Digit

      EAN-14 Barcode
      Example of EAN/UCC-14 Barcode

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 One: An Indicator is used for higher levels of packaging, while the Item Reference shares the same common base number, for example:

      Method 1
      Method 1: Common Base number

    Note: For another example of building GTINs based an Indicator for higher levels of packaging and the same Item Reference number, see the example below:

Method 1 Alternate Example
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 Two
      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 Three
      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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