Overview of the GTIN Family

• 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)
  • 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

    
    ^{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

    
    ^{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

    
    ^{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

    
    ^{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:

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:

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: 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:

·        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.