Hints and Suggestions for Retailers Barcoding Requirements
It is worth realising that the mandatory barcoding standards being
applied by retailers are International Standards and not just their inventions.
They are the the culmination of many years development and discussion worldwide, and are
known as the GS1 System.
These standards are administered in the UK by GS1 UK.
The most common barcodes that you will be using for retailers will be
;
EAN-13,
UPC-A,
ITF-14,
GS1-128,
Tray End Cards
and in the following pages you will be able to find an example of each code type along with
the general specifications within the ISO / ANSI standards that retailers will expect.
Where there might be some leniency with magnification or dimensions it would be
wise to discuss this with retailers to obtain authority before printing, rather than
have to correct it later.
EAN-13 (Usually used on a "Retail Unit")
Barcodes must, at all times, comply with GS1 rules
(click here for a direct link
to the full GS1 specifications of EAN-13 codes) but the important 'basic elements'
required by retailers are;
1. Barcode Magnification - Minimum 80%. However under certain circumstances, if
Thermal Transfer or Laser printers are used in production, it can be as low as 75%
2. Character Height - Minimum 18mm (Bar Height not less than 16mm)
3.'Left Light Margin' - Indicated usually by the width of the first digit of the
human readable characters. On a 100% magnification this dimension is 3.63mm.
4.'Right Light Margin' - Indicated by the width of the chevron pointing to the right.
On 100% magnification this dimension is 2.31mm.
The 'Light Margins' are most important but, unfortunately, too frequently ignored.
Nothing should be printed within the light margins, nor should any mark, join or
print on the wrapping be allowed to cause a light margin infringement.
In circumstances where EAN-13 barcodes are used as 'Outer Case' Codes they should be
printed to an optimum magnification of 150%. The 'Bar Height' should be a minimum
of 32mm.
The magnification range for EAN-13 barcodes on outer case labels is 100% - 200% but should
be 150% where the label is being used for both a 'Consumer' and a 'Traded' unit
UPC-A
Barcodes must, at all times, comply with UCC.EAN rules
(click here for a direct link
to the full GS1 specifications of UPC-A codes) but the important 'basic elements'
required by retailers are;
1. Barcode Magnification - Minimum 80%. However under certain circumstances, if
Thermal Transfer or Laser printers are used in production, it can be as low as 75%
2. Character Height - Minimum 18mm (Bar Height not less than 16mm)
3.'Left Light Margin' - Indicated usually by the width of the first digit of the
human readable characters. On a 100% magnification this dimension is 3.63mm.
4.'Right Light Margin' - Indicated by the width of the chevron pointing to the right.
On 100% magnification this dimension is 2.31mm.
The 'Light Margins' are most important but, unfortunately, too frequently ignored.
Nothing should be printed within the light margins, nor should any mark, join or
print on the wrapping be allowed to cause a light margin infringement.
ITF-14
(Usually used on a "Traded Unit" or "Outer Case")
Barcodes must, at all times, comply with GS1 rules
(click here for a direct link
to the full GS1 specifications of ITF-14 codes) but the important 'basic elements'
required by retailers are;
1. Barcode magnification should be a Minimum of 50% and a Maximum of 100%
2. Minimum 'Bar Height' must be 32mm
3. There must be 'Bearer Bars' at the top and bottom of the code, when printed
by methods that do not require Printing Plates. If printing plates are used the
Bearer Bar must completely enclose the code and the Quiet Zones (left and right
'Light Margins').
Tray End Cards
Barcodes must, at all times, comply with GS1 rules
(click here for a direct link
to the full GS1 specifications of GS1-128 codes) but the important 'basic elements'
required by retailers are;
1. The barcode symbology must be GS1-128 (NOT Code-128)
2. Text should contain; Company Name, Product Description and the 'Tray Quantity'
3. The GS1-128 barcode should show AI (Application Identifier) (02) followed by the
14 digit GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) then followed by AI (37) followed by
the Count of Trade Items on the tray.
4. Nominal barcode magnification 50%
GS1-128
Codes & Pallet Labels
Barcodes must, at all times, comply with GS1 rules
(click here for a direct link
to the full GS1 specifications of GS1-128 codes). The sample shown above is a
typical example of a pallet label having a Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC).
There are very strict rules governing various combinations of AI's and it is best to seek
expert advice.
Points to be aware of;
Minimum Bar Height should be 32mm.
In any combination of AI's 'Fixed Length Fields' should always precede 'Variable Length
fields.
If using an SSCC, Application Identifier (00), as above, then it must be in the bottom
line of the barcodes.
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