Frequently Asked Questions

Updating Your Identifier Registration

Why is it important to update my identifier registration?

Maintaining accurate and up-to-date information on your prefix is important to your business. Updating the information associated with the prefix is key to ensuring that your trading partner knows who they are doing business with and creates company recognition for consumers. When an update is made with GS1 US®, the update will appear in GEPIR® and GS1 US Data Hub®| Company. These include updates to the:

Address
Business entity structure (LLC, Inc., etc.)
Company name
Ownership (Merger or acquisition of a company)

As a member, ensuring your company information is up-to-date, will:

Ensure GEPIR and GS1 US Data Hub | Company maintain accurate information
Accurately represent the brand owner of the product
Enable accurate traceability of the product throughout the supply chain
Allow your barcodes to be accepted by retailers globally

Why is it important to update GS1 US, Inc. (“GS1 US”) about any change in my company structure or name?

Company Prefix(es) issued in accordance with GS1 Standards (“GS1 Company Prefix(es)”) are fundamental to creating unique - GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) - U.P.C. labels - EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) communication - Data Synchronization - Serialized Shipping Container Codes (SSCC) Coupons.

A GS1 Company Prefix is issued to only one company by GS1 US and CANNOT be shared by multiple organizations.

A GS1 Company Prefix uniquely identifies the company, so if multiple companies unknowingly use the same GS1 Company Prefix, it can cause confusion among trading partners, making unique product identification and product traceability problematic and potentially unattainable. In the event of a merger, acquisition or divesture, it should be clear which party will have rights to use the GS1 Company Prefix. Providing notification to GS1 US will help ensure proper registration.

How can I validate the information you have on record today for my account?

What if I'm unable to create an electronic image of the documents and email them?

What can you do if I am not comfortable sharing company information included in the supporting documents I need to send?

Name Changes

What is a name change?

How do I notify GS1 US of my company’s sale of its business, sale of a business line or a merger with another company?

Step 1: Download and complete the Company Prefix Transfer Form
Step 2: Download and have a duly authorized officer (during the transaction) of the selling company complete and sign the Prefix Release Letter (Right click this link and save it to your computer for best results).Please note that the letter is to be completed and then signed by a duly authorized officer, of the seller company./li>
Step 3: Submit the completed Company Name Change form and the supporting documents in myGS1 US via the Support and Registrations section.

*GS1 US reserves the rights to request additional supporting legal documentation during the review process.

What type of supporting documentation can I provide to show that my company’s name has changed?

The name of the official document to change the name of a business will depend on the type of business organization and the state in which the business is formed. Generally speaking, name changes are accomplished by amending organizational formation documents. Some of those documents include*:

Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
Amendment to Articles of Formation
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Formation
Amendment to Articles of Organization
Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Organization
Fictitious Name Certificate or Fictitious Name Filing

*The following information contained herein is for informational purposes only as a convenience, and is not legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel, nor does it constitute advertising or a solicitation. GS1 US, Inc. assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of the information contained herein.

What happens after I have sent in my completed forms and supporting documentation?

After receiving completed forms and supporting documentation, you will receive an email advising to allow 3 business days to review of the request. Once GS1 US has made a decision about your specific request, you will receive written confirmation of the decision. GS1 US will decide in its sole discretion whether your request to transfer an Identifier is permissible under GS1 US rules and regulations.

How long will it take for GS1 US to make the changes I have requested?

GS1 Company Prefix Transfer Requests

When can an Identifier be transferred from one company to another company?

Can I sell just the Identifier?

How do I notify GS1 US of a change in my company’s ownership due to a merger, acquisition, or divestiture?

Step 1: Complete the Company Prefix Transfer Request form or < a href="https://www.gs1us.org/documents?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=2258">GS1 US GTIN Transfer Request form depending on what type of Identifier will be transferred.
Step 2: Download and have duly authorized officer of the selling company complete and sign the Prefix Release Letter or GS1 US GTIN Release Letter. The Release letter should correspond to the Identifier type being transferred. (Right click the correct link and Save it to your computer for best results)
Step 3: Submit the appropriate form, letter or supporting documentation via email to dmaintenance@gs1us.org. Alternatively, if you are an existing GS1 US customer, you may submit a request online via the myGS1 US Customer Support Portal.

What happens if I am not able to obtain the appropriate Release Letter from the original Identifier holder?

If the Release Letter from the selling company cannot be obtained, you will be requested to provide additional supporting documentation to demonstrate that a GS1 US GTIN(s) or GS1 Company Prefix was intended to be transferred as part of the sale of a company’s business or business line or a merger. Refer to our website for additional details.

What type of documentation is acceptable if I cannot obtain a
Release Letter from the seller?

If a GS1 US GTIN or Prefix Release Letter from a duly authorized officer of the selling company cannot be obtained, please contact GS1 US. You may instead submit signed, transactional acceptable legal documentation that evidence the sale of a business, sale of a business line or a merger. Refer to our website for additional details.

Documents that do not demonstrate the sale of a business, sale of a business line, or merger are insufficient to support the transfer of a GS1 US GTIN or GS1 Company Prefix. Examples of unacceptable documents include:

documents that purport to transfer or assignment of an Identifier independent of the sale of a business, sale of a business line, or merger;
documents evidencing the sale or transfer of intellectual property independent of the sale of a business or business line;
documents evidencing the sale or transfer of assets independent of the sale of a business or business line; and
Bill of Sale
documents showing the purchase or acquisition of a defunct company’s assets, whether through a foreclosure sale, tax sale, bankruptcy sale, liquidation sale, or the like.

What happens after I have sent in my completed forms and supporting documentation?

After receiving completed forms and supporting documentation, you will receive an email advising to allow 3 business days to review of the request. Once GS1 US has made a decision about your specific request, you will receive written confirmation of the decision. GS1 US will decide in its sole discretion whether your request to transfer a GS1 Company Prefix is permissible under GS1 US rules and regulations.

Is there a fee to transfer an Identifier?

Where can I find more information on transferring Identifiers and rules regarding mergers and acquisitions?

How does a merger/acquisition impact my items being synchronizing through the GDSN?

Can I use the same GLN in data synchronization?

I have a prefix that embeds an FDA Labeler Code and need to update my prefix registration. Is this information shared with the FDA?

No. The information provided to GS1 US is used only to update the prefix registration. Any updates that impact the FDA Labeler Code itself need to be communicated directly to the U.S. FDA. This notification is the responsibility of the company, not GS1 US.

I have regulated healthcare items that are published in the GUDID using a GS1 Company Prefix. If I change the prefix registration information with GS1 US, will this information be shared with the FDA?

What do I need to do in the event both a GS1 Company Prefix and GS1 US GTIN need to be transferred?

You will need to submit the required documents for both identifier types (listed below). You can find all the documents needed on our Identifier Transfer page.

Prefix Transfer Request Form
Prefix Release Letter (or documentation that demonstrates the sale of a business, sale of a business line, or merger)
GS1 US GTIN Transfer Request Form
GS1 US GTIN Release Letter (or documentation that demonstrates the sale of a business, sale of a business line, or merger)