GTIN-12(UPC) for exportation in the U.S.A and Canada
In the majority of trading products, the code used globally is the GTIN-13 (EAN-13).
Especially and only for the markets of the U.S.A and Canada if your associates inform you that the retailers they collaborate with still have the need for 12digit barcodes (UPC), you should know that these are codes deriving from a special company prefix and we can issue the respective UPC prefix for your company.
In any case we advise you to specify with the intermediaries/wholesalers/distributors you collaborate with if there is in fact the need for 12digit codes, GTIN-12. The term UPC is often used in the USA referring to GS1 barcodes generally and not necessarily the special 12digit code.
The validity of GTIN-12 codes can be verified through the service Verified by GS1, where you can also access product information.
Since January 1st of 2005 all points-of-sale in the U.S.A and Canada ought to be able to manage 13digit codes so to eliminate the need of 12digit numbers for these two countries. Since then, practice has shown that all major retailers (physical stores and e-markets) have complied with the above obligation.
GTIN-12 Codification
The GS1 Company Prefix is assigned to a single company worldwide for its exclusive use and may have different range of digits, depending on the number of products for codification.
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GS1 Company Prefix |
Item Reference Number |
Check Digit |
GS1 Company Prefix
The GS1 Company Prefix is assigned to a single company worldwide for its exclusive use and may have different range of digits, depending on the number of products for codification.
Item Reference Number
It is a non-significant number, which means that the individual digits in the number do not relate to any classification or convey any specific information about the trade item. The simplest way to allocate item references is sequentially, that is 000, 001, 002, 003, etc
Check Digit
The check digit is the last digit (rightmost) of the GTIN. It is calculated from all other digits in the number, in order to ensure that the barcode has been correctly scanned or that the number is correctly composed
Symbol
GTIN-12s are represented by the UPC-A symbol.
GTINs and GS1 Company Prefixes are licensed by GS1 for a specific company globally, these may not be sold, leased, or given, in whole or in part, for use by any other company.
FAQs
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