How to make GS1 marking

For base unit

How to mark base unit

Products processed at checkouts are marked with a barcode so that the product number can be read quickly and easily. The product number is used to retrieve and produce the product price and name on the receipt from the store's product information register. The product number can also be used to collect sales data.

How to mark and identify base unit

Base units are identified by a GTIN and marked with an EAN-13 (or EAN-8) barcode.

GTIN-13 is the most common code for product identification and is placed in the EAN-13 barcode. The company must have a GS1 Company prefix number in order to generate a GTIN.

In exceptional cases, small products with limited space may be marked with the EAN-8 barcode. The EAN-8 barcode requires a GTIN-8 product number, which can be requested from GS1.

This information is intended for companies that manufactures products of varying weight, such as meat, fish, cheese, fruits and vegetables.

Note! Products that are sold directly from service counters can be labeled in a variety of ways, and the practice should be verified by the trade partner.

How to mark variable measure trade item

Variable measure base unit must be identified by the variable measure product number and marked with the EAN-13 bar code.

If the company needs to identify variable measure trade items, the company must order a company prefix for variable measure trade items from GS1. The variable measure product identifier should only be used to identify products of varying weight. Variable weight consumer products are often sold at a price per kilogram.

Company prefix for variable measure trade items is national. This means that a variable measure product number generated according to Finnish practices can only be used in Finland. If a company needs to sell variable measure products in another country, it must contact the GS1 Organization in that country. Only the GS1 Organization of that country can assign a variable measure trade item number that works in that country.

For wholesale packaging

Marking wholesale and sales batch packaging

A batch package is a package that contains several consumer packages. Stores and wholesalers usually order sales packages. Once a sales batch package is identified, stores and wholesalers can make sure they have ordered the right product.

Select a barcode based on the GTIN

The GTIN code is used to identify the wholesale / batch package. Either the GTIN-13 or GTIN-14 code can be used to identify the wholesale / batch package. To generate a GTIN, you need a GS1 company prefix. For more information on generating codes, see the How I make GS1 marking section.

Note! The outer package must not have the same GTIN as the consumer package.

Select the barcode of the sales batch package based on the operating environment

If there is a need to provide additional information such as best before date, batch number, etc., it is recommended to use the GS1-128 barcode.
If no other information is required in addition to the GTIN code (e.g. batch number and best before date), ITF-14 or EAN-13 barcodes can be used.
The ITF-14 is less sensitive to print quality than, for example, the EAN-13 and GS1-128, and is thus best suited for printing directly on corrugated board. The ITF-14 code is not recommended for use in barcodes other than those printed directly on corrugated board.
If the wholesale / sales batch packaging can be sold as such to the consumer, it must be marked with the EAN-13 barcode so that it can be read at the store's checkout.

This information is intended for companies that number and bar code products with varying weights, such as meat, fish, cheese, fruits and vegetables. Note! Products that are sold directly to counter counters can be labeled in a variety of ways, and the practice should be verified by the recipient of the product.

How to mark a variable length wholesale package?

Outer packagings and pallets containing variable-length products can be numbered in two alternative ways.

Option 1.

Generate GTIN-14 starting with number 9 (= normal balanced code that does not contain any weight data). The first number, the so-called logistical variant, should be 9, as this tells the recipient that it is a package containing variable-size products.

In this case, it is very important that the product is certainly just a logistic unit that is never meant to be read at any checkout (neither in-store nor wholesale). The net weight of the package is indicated in the barcode by means of the application identifier, as it is important information for the recipient. In addition to this, it is often necessary to indicate the batch number as well as the date (e.g. best before date), so the GS1-128 barcode is used as the barcode.

Example of a GS1-128 barcode marked on a wholesale / sales batch package containing variable size products

Option 2.

If the transport package is possibly to be read at some point of sale (store or wholesale), then a variable-length product code is formed on it in exactly the same way as for a retail product. The only difference is that the freely dialable numbers in the code must be different from the retail product. This option may also be used in purely logistic units.

How to mark logistic unit

Marking logistic unit

A logistic unit is any package used for both transport and storage that is handled in the supply chain. In order for a logistic unit to be identifiable and traceable, it must be marked with one of the unique GS1 identifiers. For more information on generating codes, see the How to make GS1 marking section.

GS1-128 barcodes are used to mark logistic units, which allow additional information to be presented. GS1-128 barcodes can be used to encode the GTIN of the product included in the package and related additional information using GS1 Application Identifiers. It is not intended to be read by retail cash register systems.

You can create package and pallet markings yourself using the instructions below. You should also check out the GS1 Golli service, which allows you to automatically generate pallet markings and electrify your order-delivery traffic.

Marking package

Smaller packages formed for delivery are marked with package address labels. The customer, address and route information guiding the delivery are entered in it. If there are several packages in the same consignment, the total number of packages must also be presented. The SSCC code is used to identify an individual package.

The package address label is formed in the same way as direct delivery to the store.

Marking pallet

Pallets contain several sales batch packages or consumer packages and are marked with a GS1 standard pallet label. The pallet tag allows the pallet to be traced throughout the order supply chain.

Pallet label

Pallet label consists of three parts:

The top block contains free information such as the sender's contact information. This is the so-called optional section. The company that makes up the stage ticket can therefore choose which information they want to use. It is common to print the company name and / or logo and product information on the top block. The top block can also be left blank if there is no need for free information.
The middle block contains the information found in the barcodes in plain text. It is possible that for some reason the barcodes are not readable at the moment of reading and for this reason the information in the barcodes should also be printed on the stage label in plain language. The middle block is reserved for this information. The middle block contains textual information about the contents of the logistic unit, eg the identifier, weight and expiry date of the included product.
The lowest block contains barcodes. Pallet barcodes are made using GS1-128 technology.

On the pallet label, the SSCC code is the minimum information and as additional information for traceability, the product identifier and quantity as well as the batch and date information are recommended in barcode format.

Choosing the right kind of pallet label

How do you deliver your products to the customer? The delivery model affects the choice of GS1 label to use. For example, if you deliver your products to a central warehouse, a pallet containing one product with the same date and batch number is usually required.

For terminal deliveries, the marking is usually different from for central warehouse deliveries. In addition, the pallet label for interchangeable products differs from the traditional pallet label. Below you will find examples of different stage boards.

The supplier delivers his products to the customer's central warehouse. The supplier is instructed to form the pallets so that there is one product on the pallet with the same date and batch number. It is also possible to deliver variable-size products and, in some cases, mixed pallets to the central warehouse.

Pallet is not a product

The supplier delivers his product to the customer's terminal. Often the supplier is asked to mark the delivery with the end customer's information.

Terminal delivery pallet address label

The supplier delivers his products directly to an individual store. Products do not go through the central warehouse or terminal.

Pallet address label

A pallet containing variable size products can be numbered with either GTIN-13 or GTIN-14 number. The product number is used so that the recipient's background system recognizes the pallet and the data is normally transmitted to the recipient electronically.

Pallet is not a product

If the pallet is not a product to be ordered, it can be identified by either GTIN-13 or GTIN-14 code. The GTIN is usually transferred to the buyer along with the product information and should not be included in the barcode on the stage tag. Instead, the pallet label includes the GTIN of the sales batch package, the weight of the pallet, the number of sales batch packages contained in the pallet and the SSCC of the pallet. The pallet label can also be used to indicate other information, such as the expiry date and the batch number.

Lavalappu vaihtuvamittaiset liha ja riista

Pallet is a product

If the pallet is a product to be ordered, it must be given GTIN-14. The GTIN number begins with the number 9, in the same way as when identifying variable-length batch packages. On the pallet label, the barcode should contain, in addition to the GTIN code of the pallet, also information on the total weight of the pallet and the SSCC of the pallet, but may also include, for example, the expiry date and the batch number.

Lavalappu vaihtuvittaiset vihannes ja kasvis

Marking a book or periodical

National ISBNs and ISSNs are used to identify publications. For barcode markings on books and periodicals, an ISBN or ISSN code is applied for from the National Library of Finland, which is made into an EAN-13 barcode symbol in accordance with the GS1 standard according to GS1 instructions. A symbol with 2 or 5 digits (Add-On) can be used in connection with the symbol. The ISBN for the books has the GS1 Prefix 978-979. The ISSN for periodicals has the GS1 Prefix 977.

ISBN identifier (International Standard Book Number)

An ISBN is an unambiguous identifier for a book or other monograph. It is given to all works that correspond in content to the book and are intended for public use. The work can be a printed book, an audiovisual or electronic recording. A separate ISBN is assigned to each book or other monograph, its publication format (outfit), and edition with changes.

ISBN symbol

ISSN identifier (International Standard Serial Number)

The ISSN is the international symbol for a constantly appearing text publication. It allows a particular magazine, series, or other ongoing publication to be unambiguously distinguished from other publications, even those of the same name. The ISSN is inextricably linked to the name of the publication; If the name changes, the ID must also be changed.

ISMN identifier (International Standard Music Number)

The ISMN is the standard identifier for sheet music publications. It is intended as a tool for publishing and selling sheet music and for music library activities. The logo makes it easier to find and process the publication. The ISMN of sheet music publications corresponds to the ISBN of books. The Finnish ISBN Center is responsible for both ISBN and ISMN activities.

GS1 Logistic Label information sheet.pdf

Instructions belong to these categories

GS1 Company Prefix

GS1 standards

Identifiers and barcodes

How to make GS1 marking