GS1

Gs1 logo

GS1 (Global Standards One) is an international non-profit association dedicated to the development and implementation of global specifications to management of supply and demand chains across multiple sectors.

GS1 finances itself by selling the company code identification to their members. Additionally GS1 offers conferences, consulting for using GS1 specifications and trainings for members and non members.

ISO is the main world wide standardization organisation. GS1 publishes the GS1 General Specifications. These are based fully on ISO standards. Correctly GS1 is called an Issuing Agency registered by the principles of ISO/IEC 15459-2. The register of Issuing Agencies is available at NEN. GS1 staff brings a lot of input to ISO. GS1 publishes a lot of specifications. GS1 is not a standardization organisation like ISO (or ANSI).

GS1 System

GS1's main activity is the development of the GS1 System used to manage supply chain. This system includes:

• BarCodes — standards for bar codes that use the globally recognized GS1 Identification Keys for unique identification of products, locations, services, etc.
• eCom – standards for electronic business messaging that allow rapid, efficient and accurate automatic electronic transmission of agreed business data between trading partners, such as purchase order, ship-to notice, and payment confirmation information.
• GDSN standards for the secure and continuous exchange of accurate, standardized data between trading partners using the Global Data Synchronization Network.
• GS1 EPCglobal – A global standards system that combines RFID-technology, existing communications network infrastructure and the Electronic Product Code (a number for uniquely identifying an item) to enable immediate and automatic identification and tracking of an item through the whole supply chain, globally.

The GS1 System of specifications is the most widely used supply-chain system in the world mainly for retail. Automotive uses ODETTE/AIAG specification. The electronic industry uses EDIFICE specifications. Postal services may be based on UPU specifications. Health industry uses HIBC and GS1. Blood donation services use e.g. ISBT specifications. All these systems can be used parallel because they are based all on the same ISO Issuing Agency registration principles.

GS1 maintains a list of data identifiers (code prefixes) used by GS1 member organizations to assign company identifiers to their member companies enabling them to create GS1 compliant identification keys. Globally, GS1 Specifications are dependent of international standardisation bodies as with joint standards of ISO and IEC, as e.g. with ISO/IEC 11179 (metadata registries), ISO/IEC 15418 (data identifiers) and ISO/IEC 18000-6C (RFID air interfaces).

GS1 codes do not provide identification of country of origin for a given product. Member companies may manufacture products anywhere in the world.

History

History of GS1 dates back to 1970 when Ad Hoc Committee on a Uniform Grocery Product Code convened for first time. It would eventually become UcC (Uniform Product Code Council) in 1974. In 1977 EAN (European Article Numbering Association) was chartered in Belgium. Its EAN-13 code was developed to be fully compatible with the UPS (universal product code) of UCC. In 2002 after continuous co-operation UCC joins EAN International as member to formally solidify EAN-UCC System. In 2005 it then changed it name to GS1 (short cut for Global Standards ONE). As whole there are GS1 member organizations in over 100 countries.

GS1 has its head office in Brussels.

See also

• List of GS1 member organizations
• List of GS1 country codes
• Global Trade Item Number
• Global Document Type Identifier
• Global Location Number
• Global Shipment Identification Number (GSIN)
• Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN)
• Global Identification Number for Consignment
• Global Electronic Party Information Register (GEPIR)
• Serial Shipping Container Code
• EPCglobal: global standards for RFID object tags
• Global Product Classification GPC
• GS1 US maintainer of Universal Product Code (UPC numbers)

External links

• Registration procedures for Issuing Agencies
• Issuing agency register
• Application Form to become an Issuing Agency
• GS1 official site
• GS1 Timeline
• GS1 Association-Greece