How to mark a package

Marking consumer packaging

Consumer packaging is identified with a GTIN code and marked with an EAN barcode, so that the product code can be quickly and easily read at the store's cash registers. With the help of the product identifier, the price and title of the product are searched for and produced on the receipt from the store's systems. The identifier is also used in other parts of the supply chain.

GTIN-13 is the most common identifier for product identification, and is encoded in the EAN-13 barcode.

In exceptional cases, small products with limited surface space can be marked with an EAN-8 barcode. For that, you need a GTIN-8 code, which can be ordered from GS1 Customer Service. GTIN-8 codes are issued according to the number of products.

Marking variable-size consumer products

Products of variable-measures are products that vary in weight, such as meat, fish, cheese, fruit and vegetables, and whose consumer packages are marked with a barcode. They are often sold by the kilo price. Products that are sold directly at store service counters can be marked in different ways, and the practice should be confirmed with the recipient of the product.

Variable-weight consumer packages are identified with the GTIN code of the variable-measure product and marked with an EAN-13 barcode. They require a GS1 Company Prefix, which is specifically intended for variable-measure products.

GTIN codes for variable-measure products are national. This means that the GTIN code of a variable-measure product formed according to Finnish practices can only be used in Finland. If the company needs to sell variable weight products in another country, the company must contact the GS1 organization of that country.

Marking wholesale and sales batch packaging 

A wholesale or sales batch package is a package that contains several consumer packages. They are usually ordered by stores and wholesalers, and when the packaging is individualized, stores and wholesalers can make sure they have ordered the right product.

Either GTIN-13 or GTIN-14 code is used to identify wholesale and sales batch packaging. It should be noted that the outer packaging must not have the same GTIN code as the consumer packaging.

Choosing the barcode for the wholesale or sales batch packaging:

• 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 or 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.

Marking variable-measure wholesale packaging

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

Option 1

A GTIN-14 code starting with the number 9 is created, i.e. a normal GTIN that does not contain weight information. The first number, the so-called logistic variant, must be 9. It tells the recipient that it is a package containing variable-sized products.

In this option, it is very important that the package is only a logistical unit, which is not intended to be read by a cash register in a store or wholesale. The net weight of the package is indicated in the barcode using the GS1 application code, as it is important information for the recipient. It is also often necessary to indicate the lot number and date, such as the best before date, so the GS1-128 barcode is used for labeling.

Option 2

If the transport package is to be read with a cash terminal in a store or wholesale, a variable-measure product GTIN code is created for it in the same way as for a consumer product. The only difference is that the freely selectable numbers on the identifier must be different numbers than on the consumer product. This option can also be used to mark logistic units.