GS1

In 1969, the retail industry in the United States was searching for a way to speed up the check-out process in shops. The Ad Hoc Committee for a Uniform Grocery Product Identification Code was established to find a solution.

In 1973, the Universal Product Code (UPC) was selected by this group as the first single standard for unique product identification. In 1974, the Uniform Code Council (UCC) was founded to administer the standard.^[1] On 26 June 1974, a pack of Wrigley's chewing gum became the first ever product with a barcode to be scanned in a shop.^[1][4]

In 1976, the original 12-digit code was expanded to 13 digits, which allowed the identification system to be used outside the U.S. In 1977, the European Article Numbering Association (EAN) was established in Brussels, with founding members from 12 countries.^[5]

In 1990, EAN and UCC signed a global cooperation agreement and expanded their overall presence to 45 countries. In 1999, EAN and UCC launched the Auto-ID Centre to develop Electronic Product Code (EPC), enabling GS1 standards to be used for RFID.^[6]

In 2004, EAN and UCC launched the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN), a global, internet-based initiative that enables trading partners to efficiently exchange product master data.^[5]

By 2005, the organisation was present in over 90 countries, and it started to use the name GS1 on a worldwide basis. Whilst "GS1" is not an acronym, it refers to the organisation offering one global system of standards.^[5]

In August 2018, the GS1 Web URI Structure Standard was ratified, allowing unique ID's to be added to products by storing a URI (a webpage-like address) as a QR code.^[7]

Barcodes defined by GS1 standards are very common.^[8] GS1 introduced the barcode in 1974.^[9] A barcode encodes a product identification number that can be scanned electronically, making it easier for products to be tracked, processed, and stored.

Barcodes improve the efficiency, safety, speed and visibility of supply chains across physical and digital channels. They have a crucial role in the retail industry, including today's online marketplaces, moving beyond just faster checkout to improved inventory and delivery management, and the opportunity to sell online on a global scale. In the UK alone, the introduction of the barcode in the retail industry has resulted in savings of 10.5 billion pounds per year.^[1][10]

Some of the barcodes that GS1 developed and manages are: EAN/UPC (used mainly on consumer goods), GS1 Data Matrix (used mainly on healthcare products), GS1-128, GS1 DataBar, and GS1 QR Code. Notably, GS1 barcodes can hold more than just a single numerical identifiers, as GS1 has defined a modular and arbitrarily combinable semantic encoding of defined data within GS1 barcodes through the publication of over 150 "Application Identifiers" (AI).^[11] These AIs allow encoding of details such as the GTIN - AI:(01), the "Country of Origin" - AI:(422), and the "Expiration date" - AI:(17), amongst many other possibilities, including URLs - AI:(8200).^[11]

In 2023, GS1 launched a global initiative known as Sunrise 2027 to facilitate the transition from one-dimensional (1D) barcodes, such as the EAN/UPC, to two-dimensional (2D) barcodes at retail point-of-sale (POS) and point-of-care (POC) systems.^[12] The program sets a global target date of 2027 for retailers and healthcare providers to ensure their scanning systems can read both traditional linear barcodes and new 2D symbols, such as QR codes and GS1 DataMatrix.

Two-dimensional barcodes allow a single standardized symbol to carry more information than legacy formats, enabling functions such as enhanced traceability, product authentication, inventory management, sustainability reporting, and consumer engagement through the GS1 Digital Link standard. Pilot programs and retail tests are already underway in over 48 countries, representing approximately 88 percent of global GDP.

The most influential GS1 standard is the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). It identifies products uniquely around the world and forms the base of the GS1 system. Other GS1 standards include the following:

Many GS1 standards are also ISO standards, including the GTIN, GLN, and SSCC.^[14]

GS1 also acts as the secretariat for ISO's Automatic identification and data capture techniques technical committee (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31).^[15]

GS1 standards are developed and maintained through the GS1 Global Standards Management Process (GSMP), a community-based forum that brings together representatives from different industries and businesses.

• List of GS1 country codes