GS1 Standards

The Global Language of Business

GS1 Standards provide a common language and help to create seamless work processes that allow businesses to identify, capture, and share information the same way all over the world.

Through the power of GS1 Standards, organizations can use accurate, robust information that makes it possible for the right product to be in the right place at the right time as well as allow consumers to find the products they are looking for.

Think of GS1 Standards as a product’s data “DNA”—the building block for connecting an item with all the information about it. From that foundation, small to large companies are building even better ways to do business. For instance, GS1 Standards enable:

Consumers to follow the food they eat—from the farm to the table
A shopper to access detailed product information from their mobile device
Companies to save through greater product and item visibility in their supply chain

General Specifications v21 Now Available

The GS1 General Specifications is the core standards document of the GS1 System describing how GS1 barcodes and identification keys should be used. To view the most updated version of the General Specifications, click here.

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GS1 US University offers certificate courses that provide you with an important credential in the use of GS1 Standards.
Learn more about our current offerings >

GS1 Standards at-a-glance: identify, capture, share

Identify icon

Identify
These are the numbers behind the barcodes. Used in both the physical and digital worlds, GS1 identification numbers uniquely distinguish products, logistics units, locations, assets, documents, and relationships across the supply chain—from the manufacturer to the consumer.

Click on each standard to learn more.

Identify	With
Companies	GS1 Company Prefix
Products	GTIN®
Locations	GLN
Logistics Units	SSCC
Documents	GDTI
Service Relationships	GSRN
Assets	GIAI, GRAI
Shipments	GSIN, GINC

Capture icon

Capture
GS1 barcodes can hold data about a product or item. Different barcodes have different purposes depending on where they will be scanned and what types of data they need to hold.

Click on each standard to learn more.

Capture	With
Product Data for Point of Sale	U.P.C. / EAN
Product Data for Point of Care/Use	GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 DataBar®
Coupons	GS1 DataBar
Cartons, Cases, Pallets	ITF-14, GS1-128
Detailed Product Data and Marketing	GS1 QR Code
Product Data Using RFID	EPC®-Enabled RFID

Share
GS1 has standards for sharing product and location information electronically, eliminating the need for manual re-keying and improving accuracy and efficiency in business communications.

Click on each standard to learn more.

Share	With
Master Product Data	GDSN®
Business Documents, Messages	EDI, XML
Business Messages for high-tech	RosettaNet®
Product Event Data	EPCIS

GS1 Standards Development

The GS1 Global Office develops international standards using the Global Standards Management Process (GSMP). GSMP is the document development lifecycle that includes a comprehensive set of rules allowing GS1's community of stakeholders to reach consensus on user-driven standards. To visit the standards development website, click here.

GSMP Standards Development Work Groups

The GSMP brings together users from around the world to develop supply chain standards in GSMP Work Groups. These groups operate under the GSMP and comply with anti-trust laws. To get involved in a work group, click here.

UNSPSC^®

The United Nations Standard Products and Services Code^®, managed by GS1 US, is an open, global, multi-sector standard for efficient, accurate classification of products and services. To view UNSPSC^®, click here.