Use GEPIR, the international database tool, to confirm the proper registration of GS1 Company Prefixes. Generally, GS1 Company Prefixes are issued to the company and not a brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Updating Your 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
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.
To ensure the fastest possible receipt of your request, it is recommended that you email all forms and documents. If you are not able to image the documents, you can mail them directly to: ATTN: Data Maintenance GS1 US, Inc. 7887 Washington Village Drive Dayton, OH 45459
The Privacy Policy explains GS1 US’ information collection practices, such as the types of information we collect regarding visitors to the sites and how we may use that information. Please view and read the GS1 US Privacy Policy carefully.
Name Changes
Any change in your company’s name, not a result of a merger or acquisition should be communicated to GS1 US to ensure proper registration of your GS1 Company Prefix(es). A company can change its name after it has been registered and may do so for a number of factors.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
GS1 US reviews forms and documentation provided within three business days. Each request is unique and in some cases may require additional review.
GS1 Company Prefix Transfer Requests
A GS1 US GTIN or a GS1 Company Prefix can only be transferred from one company to another if (1) there is a sale of the company’s business, (2) there is the sale of a business line of the company, or (3) a company merges with another company.
No, a GS1 US GTIN or a GS1 Company Prefix is for the sole use of the member to which it is licensed. GS1 US rules and regulations do not allow for the transfer of Identifiers except in limited circumstances, generally involving the sale of the company’s business, the sale of a business line, or the merger with another company (Transactions).
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
While there is no transfer fee, once the Identifier is transferred, the new company becomes responsible for all applicable license fees.
Refer to the GS1 License Agreement as well as the GS1 General Specifications (section 1.6) for additional information and obligations.
Read section 25 of the Trade Item Implementation Guide for Mergers & Acquisitions, which provides detailed steps to effectively manage and communicate impacted trade item data with trading partners through the Global Data Synchronization Network™ (GDSN®).
Once you have received confirmation of the Company Prefix transfer, you should advise your data pool provider regarding the GLN.
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.
No. The information provided to GS1 US is used only to update the prefix registration. Any updates that impact the registration of an item in the GUDID need to be communicated directly to the U.S. FDA. This notification is the responsibility of the company, not GS1 US.
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)