# GS1 > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/GS1 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/GS1.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GS1 > Source revision: 1343963761 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Organization for barcode standards This article is about the barcode organization. For other, see [GS-1](/source/GS-1_(disambiguation)). GS1 Type Not-for-profit organisation Industry Standards Founded 26 April 1974; 52 years ago (26 April 1974) Headquarters Belgium Number of locations 116 offices worldwide[1][2] Key people Renaud de Barbuat (CEO) Revenue 30,662,000 euro (2021) Website www.gs1.org **GS1** is a global coordinating office leading a collection of neutral [not-for-profit](/source/Nonprofit_organization) organizations which together develop and maintain standards for barcodes and other supply chain technologies. The best known of these standards is the [UPC/EAN barcode](/source/International_Article_Number), a symbol printed on products that can be scanned electronically. GS1 has 120 local member organizations covering 150 countries,[3] and over 2 million user companies.[a] Its main office is in Brussels, in [Avenue Louise](/source/Avenue_Louise). ## History In 1969, the retail industry in the United States was searching for a way to speed up the check-out process in shops. The Ad Hoc Committee for a Uniform Grocery Product Identification Code was established to find a solution. In 1973, the [Universal Product Code](/source/Universal_Product_Code) (UPC) was selected by this group as the first single standard for unique product identification. In 1974, the [Uniform Code Council (UCC)](/source/GS1_US) was founded to administer the standard.[1] On 26 June 1974, a pack of [Wrigley](/source/Wrigley_Company)'s [chewing gum](/source/Chewing_gum) became the first ever product with a barcode to be scanned in a shop.[1][4] In 1976, the original 12-digit code was expanded to 13 digits, which allowed the identification system to be used outside the U.S. In 1977, the [European Article Numbering Association (EAN)](/source/International_Article_Number) was established in Brussels, with founding members from 12 countries.[5] In 1990, EAN and UCC signed a global cooperation agreement and expanded their overall presence to 45 countries. In 1999, EAN and UCC launched the [Auto-ID Centre](/source/Auto-ID_Labs) to develop [Electronic Product Code (EPC)](/source/Electronic_Product_Code), enabling GS1 standards to be used for RFID.[6] In 2004, EAN and UCC launched the [Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN)](/source/Global_Data_Synchronization_Network), a global, internet-based initiative that enables trading partners to efficiently exchange product master data.[5] By 2005, the organisation was present in over 90 countries, and it started to use the name GS1 on a worldwide basis. Whilst "GS1" is not an acronym, it refers to the organisation offering one global system of standards.[5] In August 2018, the GS1 Web URI Structure Standard was ratified, allowing unique ID's to be added to products by storing a URI (a webpage-like address) as a QR code.[7] ## Barcodes The GS1 barcodes [Barcodes](/source/Barcode) defined by GS1 standards are very common.[8] GS1 introduced the barcode in 1974.[9] A barcode encodes a product identification number that can be [scanned electronically](/source/Barcode_reader), making it easier for products to be tracked, processed, and stored. Barcodes improve the efficiency, safety, speed and visibility of supply chains across physical and digital channels. They have a crucial role in the retail industry, including today's online marketplaces, moving beyond just faster checkout to improved inventory and delivery management, and the opportunity to sell online on a global scale. In the UK alone, the introduction of the barcode in the retail industry has resulted in savings of 10.5 billion pounds per year.[1][10] Some of the barcodes that GS1 developed and manages are: [EAN](/source/International_Article_Number)/[UPC](/source/Universal_Product_Code) (used mainly on consumer goods), GS1 [Data Matrix](/source/Data_Matrix) (used mainly on healthcare products), [GS1-128](/source/Code_128), [GS1 DataBar](/source/GS1_DataBar), and GS1 QR Code. Notably, GS1 barcodes can hold more than just a single numerical identifiers, as GS1 has defined a modular and arbitrarily combinable semantic encoding of defined data within GS1 barcodes through the publication of over 150 "Application Identifiers" (AI).[11] These AIs allow encoding of details such as the [GTIN](/source/GTIN) - AI:(01), the "Country of Origin" - AI:(422), and the "Expiration date" - AI:(17), amongst many other possibilities, including [URLs](/source/URLs) - AI:(8200).[11] ## Sunrise 2027 In 2023, GS1 launched a global initiative known as **Sunrise 2027** to facilitate the transition from one-dimensional (1D) barcodes, such as the EAN/UPC, to two-dimensional (2D) barcodes at retail point-of-sale (POS) and point-of-care (POC) systems.[12] The program sets a global target date of 2027 for retailers and healthcare providers to ensure their scanning systems can read both traditional linear barcodes and new 2D symbols, such as QR codes and GS1 DataMatrix. Two-dimensional barcodes allow a single standardized symbol to carry more information than legacy formats, enabling functions such as enhanced traceability, product authentication, inventory management, sustainability reporting, and consumer engagement through the GS1 Digital Link standard. Pilot programs and retail tests are already underway in over 48 countries, representing approximately 88 percent of global GDP. ## Standards The most influential GS1 standard is the [Global Trade Item Number](/source/Global_Trade_Item_Number) (GTIN). It identifies products uniquely around the world and forms the base of the GS1 system. Other GS1 standards include the following: - [Application Level Events (ALE)](/source/Application_Level_Events) - Core Business Vocabulary (CBV) - [EAN](/source/International_Article_Number)/[UPC](/source/Universal_Product_Code) barcodes - [EPC/RFID tags](/source/Electronic_Product_Code) - [EPCIS](/source/EPCIS) - [GEPIR](/source/GEPIR) - Global Data Model - [Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN)](/source/Global_Data_Synchronization_Network) - Global Document Type Identifier (GDTI) - Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI) - Global Identification Number for Consignment (GINC) - [Global Location Number (GLN)](/source/Global_Location_Number) - Global Product Classification (GPC) - Global Model Number (GMN) - Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI) - Global Service Relationship Number (GSRN) - Global Shipment Identification Number (GSIN) - [GS1-128](/source/Code_128) - [GS1 DataBar](/source/GS1_DataBar) - [GS1 DataMatrix](/source/Data_Matrix) - [GS1 Digital Link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=GS1_Digital_Link&action=edit&redlink=1)[13] - [GS1 EDI](/source/GS1_EDI) - [ITF-14](/source/ITF-14) - Low-Level Reader Protocol (LLRP) - Object Name Service (ONS) - [Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)](/source/Serial_Shipping_Container_Code) Many GS1 standards are also [ISO](/source/International_Organization_for_Standardization) standards, including the [GTIN](/source/Global_Trade_Item_Number), [GLN](/source/Global_Location_Number), and [SSCC](/source/Serial_shipping_container_code).[14] GS1 also acts as the secretariat for ISO's Automatic identification and data capture techniques technical committee ([ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31](/source/ISO%2FIEC_JTC_1%2FSC_31)).[15] GS1 standards are developed and maintained through the GS1 Global Standards Management Process (GSMP), a community-based forum that brings together representatives from different industries and businesses. ## Industries ### Retail and marketplaces [Retail](/source/Retail) was the first industry that GS1 began working with and has remained their primary focus. Today, GS1 operates in four retail sub-sectors on a global level: [Apparel](/source/Clothing), Fresh Foods, [CPG](/source/Fast-moving_consumer_goods) and [General Merchandise](/source/General_line_of_merchandise). Key focus areas in retail include [sustainability](/source/Sustainability), [data quality](/source/Data_quality), compliance with regulatory requirements, [traceability](/source/Traceability) of products[16] from their origin through delivery, and upstream integration between manufacturers and suppliers. As consumers are recurring to [e-commerce](/source/E-commerce) more often throughout the years, GS1 has developed standards that uniquely identify products for the benefit of consumers and for search engines, providing accurate and complete product information digitally.[17] Major e-commerce companies such as eBay, Amazon and Google Shopping require companies to use a GS1 GTIN to sell on their websites.[18][19][20] ### Healthcare Since 2005, GS1 has operated in [Healthcare](/source/Health_care) with the primary objective to enhance patient safety, and to drive supply chain efficiencies. More than 70 countries have healthcare-related regulations or trading partner requirements where GS1 standards are being used for the above reasons as well for medicines as medical devices. Members of GS1 Healthcare include more than 140 leading healthcare organisations worldwide.[21] ### Other industries GS1 operates three other key industries globally: Transport & Logistics, [Food service](/source/Food_service) and Technical Industries. GS1's 120 Member Organisations in 150 countries around the world collectively focus on dozens of industry sectors.[22] ## See also - [List of GS1 country codes](/source/List_of_GS1_country_codes) ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** GS1 UK, for example, is a member organization in the UK, with its own company members. GS1 UK GS1 is a [company limited by guarantee](/source/Company_limited_by_guarantee) based in London.[3] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_1-3) Harford, Tim (23 January 2017). ["How the barcode changed retailing and manufacturing"](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38498700). *BBC News*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180319110851/http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38498700) from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["GS1 grows by adding two new Member Organisations | GS1"](https://www.gs1.org/articles/2510/gs1-grows-by-adding-two-new-member-organisations). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201021224427/https://www.gs1.org/articles/2510/gs1-grows-by-adding-two-new-member-organisations) from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gs1uk_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gs1uk_3-1) GS1 UK, [Who We Are](https://www.gs1uk.org/about-us/who-we-are), accessed on 2 March 2026 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The History of the Bar Code"](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/history-bar-code-180956704/). *Smithsonian*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170507094628/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/history-bar-code-180956704/) from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_6-2) ["Historic Timeline - GS1 40th Anniversary"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190717103404/http://40.gs1.org/historic-timeline.php). *40.gs1.org*. Archived from [the original](http://40.gs1.org/historic-timeline.php) on 17 July 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Anonymous (18 December 2014). ["How we got here"](http://www.gs1.org/about/how-we-got-here). *www.gs1.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170519141938/http://www.gs1.org/about/how-we-got-here) from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["GS1 Web URI Structure Standard"](https://www.gs1.org/docs/Digital-Link/GS1_Web_URI_Standard_i1_r_2018-07-17.pdf) (PDF). *GS1*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190808200818/https://www.gs1.org/docs/Digital-Link/GS1_Web_URI_Standard_i1_r_2018-07-17.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Robertson, Gordon L. (19 April 2016). [*Food Packaging: Principles and Practice, Third Edition*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BizOBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA263). CRC Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781439862421](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781439862421). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [*GS1 - Organisation that manages the barcode standard used by retailers, manufacturers and suppliers*](https://www.gs1.org/about), [archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190401090204/https://www.gs1.org/about) from the original on 1 April 2019, retrieved 1 April 2019 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** GS1UK (10 December 2013), [*Ever wondered what the GS1 barcode has done for you?*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJa3_ExVFPE), [archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/XJa3_ExVFPE) from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 28 April 2017{{[citation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Citation)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list)) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-genspecs.pdf_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-genspecs.pdf_12-1) ["GS1 General Specifications Standard"](https://ref.gs1.org/standards/genspecs/). GS1. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230511115333/https://ref.gs1.org/standards/genspecs/) from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Sunrise 2027"](https://www.gs1us.org/industries-and-insights/by-topic/sunrise-2027). *GS1 US*. GS1 US. Retrieved 12 November 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["GS1 Digital Link"](https://www.gs1.org/standards/gs1-digital-link). *GS1*. Retrieved 12 November 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:2_15-0)** ["Organizations in cooperation with ISO"](https://www.iso.org/organizations-in-cooperation-with-iso.html). *www.iso.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170405063354/https://www.iso.org/organizations-in-cooperation-with-iso.html) from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques"](https://www.iso.org/committee/45332.html). *www.iso.org*. 4 December 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170511185735/https://www.iso.org/committee/45332.html) from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Traceability"](https://www.gs1india.org/content/traceability). 27 January 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210627120227/https://www.gs1india.org/content/traceability) from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Communications, Edgell. ["Tackling Disruptive Forces through Industry Collaboration"](http://apparel.edgl.com/news/Tackling-Disruptive-Forces-through-Industry-Collaboration--108651). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170204190604/http://apparel.edgl.com/news/Tackling-Disruptive-Forces-through-Industry-Collaboration--108651) from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Product Identifiers | eBay Seller Center"](http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/springupdate2015/product-identifiers.html). *pages.ebay.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170514081447/http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/springupdate2015/product-identifiers.html) from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Amazon Announcement: Product UPCs and GTINs - RepricerExpress"](https://www.repricerexpress.com/product-upcs-gtins/). *www.repricerexpress.com*. 30 June 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180116194859/https://www.repricerexpress.com/product-upcs-gtins/) from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Reach more customers online: Add GTINs to your Google Shopping data feed"](https://commerce.googleblog.com/2015/09/reach-more-customers-online-add-gtins.html). *Google Commerce*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170730174836/https://commerce.googleblog.com/2015/09/reach-more-customers-online-add-gtins.html) from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Anonymous (23 December 2014). ["Healthcare"](http://www.gs1.org/healthcare). *www.gs1.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170507185312/http://www.gs1.org/healthcare) from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:3_23-0)** ["GS1 Strategy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180117131351/https://www.gs1.org/1/strategy/). *www.gs1.org*. Archived from [the original](http://www.gs1.org/1/strategy/) on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2017. ## External links - [www.gs1.org](http://www.gs1.org) Authority control databases ISNI --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [GS1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GS1) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GS1?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.