Learning About GTINs

The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is a globally unique, brand owner assigned 14-digit number used to identify a trade item (products and services) sold, delivered, warehoused, and billed throughout the retail and commercial distribution channels. The GTIN is the identification method used by the GS1 Global Data Synchronization Network within the EAN.UCC System that enables the trade of data through the GS1 Global Registry.

The GTIN was created to support increased global commerce and the UCC.EAN mandated Sunrise 2005 that requires all systems and applications, anywhere in the world, are able to scan and process EAN-8, EAN-13 and the 12-digit UPC bar code symbols at the point-of-sale. To comply, data storage must accommodate 14 digits.

The term Global Trade Item Number encompasses all the variants of what were previously known as EAN/UCC-8, UCC-12 (UPC), EAN/UCC-13 and EAN/UCC-14 numbers. Products marked with an EAN-8, UPC or an EAN-13 bar code meet the requirement of a 14-digit GTIN when they are right justified in a 14-digit reference field, called the GTIN Format.

The following explains the construction of those variants and different numbering possibilities.

1. Company Prefix - A variable length (typically six digits) that uniquely identifies a member company of the EAN/UCC Organization. This unique number allows the manufacturer to build GTINs.
2. Item Reference Number - A variable length number (typically five digits) that the manufacturer assigns to each product. It is the manufacturer's responsibility to assign each product a separate Item Reference Number.
3. Check Digit - A digit within an UCC/EAN number calculated from the values of the other digits to perform a mathematical check for accuracy of the encoded message. When a check character is used, data security is improved.
4. Quiet Zone - The quiet zone is an area free of printing that precedes the leftmost bar and follows the right most bar in an EAN/UCC symbol. This space must be free of any conflicting text or artwork; if there is print in the quiet zone the scanner may attempt to translate that print as encoded information. Quiet Zones must be at least 1/8" wide on either side of the bars and spaces.