The Electronic Product Code™ (EPC) is syntax for unique identifiers assigned to physical objects, unit loads, locations, or other identifiable entity playing a role in business operations.

EPCs have multiple representations, including binary forms suitable for use on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, and text forms suitable for data sharing among enterprise information systems.

GS1's EPC Tag Data Standard (TDS) specifies the data format of the EPC, and provides encodings for numbering schemes -- including the GS1 keys -- within an EPC.

Just as there are many types of barcodes, all RFID tags are not the same. Active and passive tags, NFC, UHF, HF, LF, they all work to meet the requirements of specific use cases. GS1 standards are focused on UHF and HF passive RFID tags. The most broadly implemented tags in our industries are UHF passive tags, also known as RAIN RFID tags.

When unique EPCs are encoded onto individual RAIN RFID tags, radio waves can be used to capture the unique identifiers at extremely high rates and at distances well in excess of 10 metres, without line-of-sight contact. These characteristics of RAIN RFID can be leveraged to boost supply chain visibility and increase inventory accuracy.

The Electronic Product Code (EPC) is a globally unique serial number embedded in an RFID tag that identifies the specific item on which the tag is placed.

The EPC allows for the tracking of a specific item throughout the entire supply chain. An EPC code is combined with a GTIN code to create an SGTIN (Serialized GTIN). This way, by reading the EPC/SGTIN, we can identify the product, such as a bottle of Milk A, and simultaneously know that we are referring to that particular bottle and not the adjacent one, which is also a bottle of Milk A.