GS1 Data Tuotekoodit instructions

How to create a GTIN for a product for use in a barcode

This guide will help you create a new GTIN for your product, which will be used to generate barcodes for checkout, and enter the necessary information.

Create a GTIN in the Own products section by clicking the Add product button in the upper right corner.

You can choose either Create new GTIN-code or Enter GTIN-code.

Create new GTIN

If you have not yet generated any GTINs from your GS1 Company Prefix, or if all GTINs used by your company have been saved, you should create new codes automatically using this option.

Select the GS1 Company Prefix from which you want to create the GTIN. If your company has only one GS1 Company Prefix, the system will suggest it automatically. Here you will also see the number of free codes.

Press the Add product button.

You can now enter the required information for your product. You can also return to edit the basic information later.

Enter GTIN

When saving GTINs that you have previously generated in a way other than with GS1 Data, create them manually.

When you want to save, for example, a 13-digit GTIN for a retail product, enter the first 12 digits of your GTIN. You can also enter a zero at the beginning followed by the 12 digits of your code. Press the Calculate check digit button. You can also enter the check digit at the end if you already know it; the program will verify that the number is correct.

Providing product information

The following information is stored for the GTIN:

GPC category

GPC (Global Product Classification) is GS1’s worldwide product classification used by both product manufacturers and retailers. It is a common way to classify products according to specific criteria. Select the product classification that best suits the product from the drop-down menu. You can also use the search function.

Brand name

Enter the recognisable name used by the brand owner, by which the product can be uniquely identified. The brand appears on the package. If the product does not have a separately defined brand, use your company name.

Sub brand

A product may have a sub brand that specifies, for example, the product family to which the product belongs. Do not repeat the text entered in the Brand name field here.

Product name

Enter a clear and understandable description that makes the product easy to identify and uniquely identifies it. Enter the product information in the following order, as comprehensively as possible: brand name, sub brand if applicable, product type description, variant if applicable, and net content. At least one language is mandatory; you should enter the languages required by the target market.

You can also save the information in languages other than those shown by clicking the Add language button.

Net content

Enter the quantity of the product contained in the package as stated on the package, for example 400 grams, 1 litre, or 5 pieces.

When the contents of the product package can be counted as pieces, for example a snack bar box, diaper pack or multipack, the quantity in pieces is entered in the Net content field. For products whose contents consist of items in different units, for example a gift pack containing shampoo + conditioner + hairbrush, the net content is also stated in pieces.

Net content can be stated in several units of measure. For example, in addition to the number of pieces in a multipack, the product weight can be stated in grams or kilograms. To enter several net content values, click the Add measurement button. A product can only have one net content value in the same unit of measure.

Hierarchy level

The hierarchy level describes the product’s position in the packaging hierarchy. Select whether it is:

Base unit, i.e. the smallest sellable product level
Case, which contains several pieces of a retail product and can be sold to the end user or only to the buyer
Pallet

Packages

Add the package in which this product is contained. You can also add a package that contains several products you have saved. The packaging hierarchy should be created first and published together with the product.

Packaging hierarchy level

Case, which contains several pieces of a retail product and can be sold to the end user or only to the buyer

Pallet

GTIN

Create new GTIN — select the GS1 Company Prefix from which you want to create the GTIN.

Create new GTIN-14 — you can create 8 different codes based on the GTIN-13 number of the contained product without the check digit. Select, for example, the first code beginning with one from the drop-down menu. This GTIN-14 can only be assigned to a package or pallet that contains several pieces of one product.

NOTE: A GTIN-14 code is represented in barcode format as ITF-14. The ITF-14 barcode is not recommended for use except in barcodes printed directly on corrugated cardboard. It is easier to print and read than other barcode types. An ITF-14 barcode cannot be read at a retail checkout, so it cannot be used on products sold to consumers.

Enter GTIN — you can also enter a code that is already known here.

Included products

You can save which products the package contains and how many pieces. For a transport package, enter the number of contained products. For a pallet, enter the number of contained packages.

For packages containing several products, all the products they contain and their quantities are saved to a GTIN-13. Please note that GTINs that have not been previously saved cannot be added to an assortment. In that case, describe the package contents in the product name.

Additional supplier identification code (optional)

In this additional identifier, you can save the internal product number used by your company, if one is in use. The information in this field is not transmitted to the global registry.

Product image (optional)

Providing a product image is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. You can upload the image either from your computer or by entering the image URL. The program saves the GTIN as the image file name.

The product image must meet the following requirements:

.jpg, .tiff or .png format
RGB colour space
We recommend a minimum length of 900 px for the longest side. The maximum length of the longest side is 4800 px
File size less than 50 MB

Country of sale

At least one country of sale, i.e. the country or area where the product is sold, is mandatory. If the product is sold in other countries, add those as well. Finland is selected by default.

Product links (optional)

You can add links related to the product here. Select the link type and enter the URL and title. You can add several links by clicking the Add link type button.

The link can be, for example, the product’s Digital Product Passport (DPP), allergen information or instruction. The links are shown under the product information in the Verified by GS1 service.

Editing product information

By clicking the product row in the list, you can view and edit your product’s information. You can freely edit the information of a product in Draft status. The information of a published product can be corrected. For example, a spelling mistake can be corrected, the GPC class can be specified more precisely, and language versions can be added to the product name. Please remember to check the GTIN Management Standard to see whether you can make the intended change to the product or whether the change requires a new GTIN.

Changing and modifying product information is determined by the international GTIN Management Standard, according to which, among other things:

Every new product needs a new GTIN.
Previously used codes may not be assigned to another product.
When the product’s weight or packaging dimensions change, a new code is most often required.

You can easily check this using our GTIN Management Decision-Support Tool tool.