14-digit gtin & barcodes
14-digit GTIN's (Global Trade Item Number) are used to hold formatted data. There is no such thing as a "GTIN barcode" but GTIN numbers are often encoded as barcodes. You can represent a GTIN as a UPC, EAN, Code 128, or Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode.
A Global Trade Item Number is not a new barcode, it's how data is stored. A barcode can represent a GTIN.
January 1, 2005 was the GTIN ‘sunrise date’. After that date all trading partners are expected to support GTIN's. It did not mean that a new barcode debuted on 02jan05. Database and spreadsheet developers as well as those in the shipping and distribution industries were most affected. For those that planned ahead, the transition was a non-event.
The globally unique GS1 System item number for products and services. A Global Trade Item Number is 14 digits long and can represented by a barcode. The important thing to remember is that there is no such thing as a "GTIN barcode". GTIN numbers can be represented by barcode but it's a 14 digit number not the container used to encode it.
As the name implies, the GTIN helps automate the trading process — basically buying and selling. GTINs are therefore assigned to any item (product or service) that may be priced, or ordered, or invoiced at any point in any supply chain. The GTIN is then used to retrieve pre-defined information about the item.
— from GS1 US
To learn more about GTIN, bar codes, and other auto ID nerdy stuff, please read our white paper on the topic.
GS1 US also has loads of GTIN information for you.
Relax, all of our products are GTIN compliant.
