Frequently
Asked Questions
EAN/UCC
Standards
Numbering
and barcoding
UCC/EAN-128
EAN/UCC Standards
Which
sectors use EAN/UCC standards ?
Although
the EAN/UCC System was first implemented by the retail industry,
it has rapidly expanded to include a range of commercial and industrial
sectors who wished to identify not only consumer goods but also
books, textiles, healthcare products, automotive parts, and many
other products and services.
The
multi-sectorial aspect of EAN/UCC standards means that any company
in any sector, regardless of where it is located, can use the standards.
EAN/UCC numbers carry no information about the items they identify.
They are just unique keys to fixed or variable information stored
in computer files and may be communicated using standard formats.
Identification numbers and related data, standard bar codes for
representing this data in machine readable form, and standard formats
for encoding and transmitting business transactions are the key
elements of the communication language that EAN/UCC provides.
What
are the benefits of using EAN/UCC standards ?
They
offer companies various means to improve their business efficiency
and productivity. The application of the different EAN/UCC standards
can result in significant improvements in logistic operations, reduction
of paperwork costs, shorter order and delivery lead times, increased
accuracy and better management of the whole supply chain. Enormous
cost savings are realised daily by user companies who have adopted
the EAN/UCC system, because they apply the same solution for communicating
with all their trading partners, while remaining entirely free to
run internal applications at their own discretion.
Is
the system really international ?
The
"European Article Numbering Association" (EAN) was created
in 1977 as a non- profit body to develop a UPC (Universal Product
Code)-compatible system which was introduced in USA in 1972. As
the success of the EAN system spread beyond Europe, the association
acquired an international status and became the International Article
Numbering Association, EAN International. Today over 800 000 user
companies in the world use the EAN/UCC System through an international
network of Numbering Organisations represented in local offices
in over 92 countries.
In
an increasingly international trading environment, it is essential
to establish an effective communication system, integrating all
the trading partners participating in the supply chain -- including
raw material suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors,
retailers and final clients or consumers. Today virtually all businesses’
or administrations’ supply chains incorporate at least one actor
based in another country. With the increase in cross-border exchanges,
companies should carefully examine the future translation issues
and extra costs which national solutions may impose in the medium
and long term.
What
are the reasons for choosing an "international" solution
rather than an "industry"
solution ?
Today
many sectors of trade and industry recognise EAN/UCC as the only
identification and communication system which provides generally
applicable, multi-sectorial, fully international standards. Despite
its origin, the EAN·UCC System specific characteristics are
not exclusively applicable for the identification of goods, and
have never been solely a solution for retailers only. Many major
international companies use EAN/UCC standards as tools to speed
up their data flow in commercial exchanges, and to optimise the
control of goods entering, being transformed in and leaving their
premises.
In
an ever more competitive marketplace, many businesses today are
expanding their distribution channels towards markets and clients
which may not be traditional for them, such as selling directly
to consumers, via catalogues, or alongside other retail products
in "do-it-yourself" environments. A business which chooses
an industry-specific standard will face the potentially high costs
of maintaining two systems if it wants to sell its goods or services
or simply communicate outside its "closed world".
Are
the EAN/UCC standards really "user-driven" ?
The
decision-making process of EAN International is driven by the users
of EAN/UCC standards in conjunction with the Numbering Organisations;
this is reflected in the structure of the Association. The Management
Board is comprised of a majority of top managers from user companies;
these users have final approval over changes or additions to EAN
standards, as well as the power to set up technical committees and
nominate their members. A number of project teams handle particular
work items under the supervision of EAN International and the permanent
committees: they also include experts from various user companies.
Each Numbering Organisation can also nominate up to two (national)
delegates to represent it at the General Assembly, the final decision-making
body on key matters.
The
EAN numbering and identification standards have existed now for
over 20 years. Their foundations, as used within EANCOM®;
EDI messages, drive new applications
in the business world daily, resulting in over 290 EANCOM® change
requests submitted by users per year. Many of these additional functionalities
are incorporated into UN/EDIFACT through EAN International active
participation in developing the standard. Users also submit requests
for new Application Identifiers, the identifier prefixes and data
formats whose wide applicability also allow their use in the coming
Radio Frequency communications standard. It is real business needs,
therefore, which daily shape EAN/UCC into a unique international
system that accommodates all of its users’ requirements.
Numbering
and barcoding
Can
I use my UPC (Universal Product Code) number outside
North America ?
Yes,
EAN International allocates numbers world-wide, except in the United
States and Canada, where numbers are allocated by the Uniform Code
Council (UCC). The management of the system is carried out locally
by EAN Numbering Organisations established in more than 92 countries.
From
a numbering point of view, EAN and UPC are perfectly compatible.
In computer files designed for 13-digit EAN numbers, the 12 digit
UPC numbers must be right justified and filled with a leading zero.
EAN and UPC article numbers are then unique and unambiguous.
There
is no EAN Numbering Organisation in my country, how
can I number my products ?
EAN
International Head Office provides support for the countries that
still do not have a local numbering organisation.
Do
not hesitate to contact us for any additional information on the
subject: info@ean.be
Who
is responsible for numbering the products I am selling, me,the producer,
the distributor or the retailer?
EAN
International recommends that the brand owner numbers the products
regardless of the country where the products are manufactured or
sold. The brand owner may be either the producer, the distributor
or the retailer, depending on agreements in place.
Does
the EAN number indicate the country of origin of a
product ?
No,
the numbering of a product with EAN numbers does not imply any significance.
An EAN number simply starts with the prefix of the numbering organisation
which has allocated a bank of numbers to a company. This does not
mean that the product was manufactured in a specific country or
by a specific manufacturer.
I
want to put a new range of products on the market, could you give
me a new product number for those as soon as possible ?
First
of all, when you need a number, you must contact your local Numbering
Organisation. They will provide you with a company prefix and the
EAN standards in your language. You will then be responsible for
allocating a unique number to each product from the number bank
associated with the company prefix.
If
you already are a member of a local numbering organisation, check
if your company has fully utilised its capacity of numbers. If your
number bank has been exhausted, your Numbering Organisation will
issue a second company prefix.
Can
I encode information in a bar code such as colour or size?
The
EAN/UCC standards state that "each variant of a product (e.g.
colour, style, size, etc.) should be assigned a separate, unique
GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)". The EAN/UCC system is based
on the non-significance of the numbers. In addition, it is recommended
to allocate the numbers serially, in a non-significant way.
The
colour or size are descriptive information which are attributes
of the GTIN in databases.
Can
I find out the name of the manufacturer if I have only the bar
code?
The
structure of the GTIN includes the numbering organisation prefix,
the number allocated to the company, the number of the product and
a check digit. This number forms one undivisible identification
number that is read in its entirety.
However,
the number normally starts with the prefix
of the numbering organisation that allocated a bank of numbers to
a company. It may be possible to receive data of the company who
allocated the number to the product, by contacting the corresponding
EAN numbering organisation.
For
more information on this subject see “EAN
identification for retail/trade items”.
UCC/EAN-128
Do
I have to register with my Numbering Organisation for
UCC/EAN-128 ?
If
you are not registered with an EAN Numbering Organisation, you will
need to do so if you want to use the UCC/EAN-128.
If
you are already registered with an EAN Numbering Organisation, the
fee that you pay to your Numbering Organisation includes support
concerning all the EAN standards, including UCC/EAN-128.
Will
UCC/EAN-128 replace the EAN-13 or ITF-14 symbologies?
UCC/EAN-128
is a standard that responds to specific needs as explained in "EAN
identification for retail/trade items" and "EAN
Application Identifier and the UCC/EAN-128 symbology".
It was created to enhance the existing EAN standards, and complement
EAN-13 and ITF-14, not to replace them.
Who
is using UCC/EAN-128 and why ?
The
specifications for the UCC/EAN-128 bar code symbology and related
Application Identifiers were first published in February 1989. Since
then the use of UCC/EAN-128 has grown exponentially. The combination
of a secure bar code symbology and standardised data content is
being used in many supply chain applications including:
*
Tracking and Tracing of Logistic
Units;
*
Identification of Trade Units;
*
Tracking and Tracing of Returnable Assets.
Users
of the UCC/EAN standards include internationally recognised Retailers,
Healthcare Providers, Manufacturers, Transporters and Logistic Service
Providers.
Can
my printer print and my scanner scan UCC/EAN-128 ?
It
depends on the type of equipment you are using and the way it is
programmed, you should ask your equipment supplier to answer this
question.
Is
UCC/EAN-128 only for pallets ?
No,
the tracking and tracing of logistic
units, mainly pallets, is a major application that utilises
the UCC/EAN-128 specifications. However, UCC/EAN-128
is being used in a host of other supply chain applications including:
*
The identification of trade units;
*
The encodation of additional information, beyond primary identification,
on trade units, such as batch numbers, production date and best
before date;
*
Tracking and Tracing of Returnable Assets;
*
and many other applications.
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