The following table provides examples of unique product identification at various levels. It also demonstrates how various GS1 barcodes can be used for GTINs.
| Description | Item | Level | Barcode Type | Encoded GTIN | GTIN in Database |
| Product A | 1 Unit | Consumer | U.P.C.-A | 614141000012 | 00614141000012 |
| product a | 96 Unit Case | consumer | ITF-14 | 00614141000029 | 00614141000029 |
| product b | 1 Unit | consumer | U.P.C.-A | 614141000777 | 00614141000777 |
| product b | 6 Pack | consumer | U.P.C.-A | 614141000883 | 00614141000883 |
| product b | 12 Pack | consumer | U.P.C.-A | 614141000999 | 00614141000999 |
| product b | 2×12 Pack | case | GS1-128 | 10614141000996 | 10614141000996 |
Global Trade Item Number, or GTIN, is a term used to describe the various versions of number structures that uniquely identify products and services.
No, GTIN is a term only. The U.P.C. barcode symbol (also known as a U.P.C.-A) encodes a 12-digit GTIN. The U.P.C. does not go away; companies that place a GTIN-12 (U.P.C.) on products now should continue to do so.
Yes. There should be a unique GTIN identifying the consumer unit, inner pack, multi-pack, case, or pallet where applicable.
A company is considered GTIN compliant when it is able to process, store, and communicate information about its products with trading partners using all types of GTINs, whether 8, 12, 13, or 14 digits. Companies become GTIN compliant by expanding the appropriate systems and applications to 14 digits. This will support the GTIN on products at all levels of packaging (consumer, inner packs, multi-packs, cases, pallets, etc). A company must be GTIN compliant in order to take advantage of:
No. You should continue to use the Company Prefix you have already licensed.
A separate unique GTIN is required whenever any of the pre-defined characteristics of a trade item are different in any way that is relevant to the trading process. The guiding principle here is that a new GTIN should be assigned to the new trade item if the consumer is expected to distinguish the new trade item from the old trade item and purchase accordingly. (Note that the product package and shelf edge label declarations should appear the same to the consumer.) For more information, refer to the GTIN Allocation Rules (available through the GS1 US Product Catalog) or to the Barcodes and Identification Numbers section of the Solutions Center.
A 9 is used to indicate a variable measure product, which is an item that is always produced in the same predefined version (e.g., type, packaging, design) that may be sold at any point in the supply chain and that may vary in weight or size or may be traded without a pre-defined weight, size, or length.
The correct qualifiers are as follows:
The following diagrams illustrate the assignment of GTINs at various item and package levels. Note that uniqueness can be achieved through the use of different Indicator Digits or different Item References at the higher levels of packaging:
When a GTIN is incorrectly assigned to products, the result is invoice errors and delays in products reaching the market. Following are several examples that demonstrate the most common mistakes made in assigning GTINs and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Assigning the Same GTIN to a Retail Unit and Case
Mistake #2: Using an Indicator Digit Without a Hierarchy
Mistake #3: Using an Indicator Digit Without a Hierarchy
Mistake #4: Assigning an Incorrect GTIN for a Mixed Case
Mistake #5: Giving the Same Trade Item Two Different GTINs
Source: Here
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