With the expansion of computerisation, plain language descriptions of products and services need to be replaced by codes that are useable in all trade and industry sectors world-wide.
EAN International has developed a system of numbers that guarantees unique and unambiguous identification. These numbers provide a common language in which manufacturers, exporters, importers, wholesalers and retailers can communicate information regarding the goods or services they trade.
Product numbers are represented by bar codes which can be read by scanners throughout the supply chain, and provide accurate information for improved management.
Items that are scanned at the retail point of sales are called retail units, while items traded between companies are called trade items.
 - THE NUMBERING OF RETAIL AND TRADE ITEMS
- HOW SHOULD A NUMBER BE REPRESENTED?
- QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
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1. THE NUMBERING OF RETAIL AND TRADE ITEMS
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- What are the benefits of EAN numbers?
- they are unique : a separate unique number is allocated for each unit.
- they are non-significant : the EAN number in itself is the key to access a database, which contains precise information on the unit.
- they are multi-industry and international : their non-significance enables their use in all sectors, and their uniqueness permits their use across borders.
- they are secure : EAN numbers include a check digit which guarantees secure data capture.
Structure of EAN numbers
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EAN-14
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V
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123 456789012
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C
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EAN-13
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0
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123 456789012
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C
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EAN-8
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0
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000 001234567
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C
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V :
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Logistic Variant assigned by the manufacturer (trade items)
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C :
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The last digit serves to check that those preceding have been correctly
captured. It is always calculated using the previous digits.
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The compatibility of EAN numbers enables them to be used in the same database.
- EAN numbers for retail units
The EAN-13 identification is a numeric code and has the following general structure :
EAN Prefix
(3 digit)
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Company Prefix
(4 digit/5 digit/6 digit)
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Item Number
(5 digit/4 digit/3 digit)
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Check Digit
(1 digit)
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888
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4 digit: XXXX
5 digit: XXXXX
6 digit: XXXXXX
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5 digit: XXXXX
4 digit: XXXX
3 digit: XXX
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C
C
C
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EAN Prefix :
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The country where the barcode number was registered. EAN international has allocated 888 as Singapore's Prefix.
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Company Prefix :
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The number allocated by GS1 Singapore to its members at its discretion. Members may be allocated 4 digit/ 5 digit/ 6 digit company number depending on the range of product carried by the company.
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Item Number :
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The number which is located by the company for its products. A 5-digit item number must be allocated if the company's prefix is 4-digit. A 4-digit item number must be allocated if the company's prefix is 5-digit. A 3-digit item number must be allocated if the company's prefix is 6-digit
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Check Digit :
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The check digit is used to verify the entire EAN-13 barcode. It is calculated using a module 10 algorithm formula and this digit can be generated by the film master suppliers.
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Exceptionally when an item is very small, an eight digit number, the EAN-8, may be used. Due to the limited capacity of the EAN-8, these numbers are assigned directly by EAN Numbering Organisations for each item.
Specific numbering rules provided by each numbering organisation, apply for variable quantity retail units such as fresh meat, fruits and vegetables, cheeses,...
- EAN for books and magazines
EAN has made available the prefixes 978 and 977 for ISBN and ISSN.
Book coding
The International Standard Book Numbering system (ISBN) is used throughout the world for the numbering of published books.
Magazine / journal coding
A similar numbering standard exists for serial publications called the International Standard Serial Numbering system (ISSN).
- EAN Numbers for trade items
"Trade items" by definition are items not intended to be sold to consumers through a retail checkout. A trade unit may be a single product or a standard grouping of units packaged to facilitate handling, storing, order preparation or shipping.
There are two options available to number a trade unit :
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EAN-13 : A trade unit containing different products is identified by means of a unique EAN-13 number.
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EAN-14(former DUN-14): A trade unit containing identical products can be identified with either an EAN-13 or an EAN-14 number.
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The EAN-14 consist of the EAN number of the unit contained headed by a Logistic Variant of 1 digit which is different for each packaging level.
The Logistic Variant is a number between 1 and 8. It is chosen by the manufacturer according to its specific needs.
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V
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XXXXXXXXX
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C
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Logistic
Variant
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EAN-13 number of the contained unit without the check digit
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Check
Digit
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1 digit
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12 digits
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1 digit
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2. HOW SHOULD A NUMBER BE REPRESENTED
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EAN numbers identifying retail/ trade items may be represented by a bar code symbol.
This data carrier allows the identification number to be machine read thus enabling automatic data capture (scanning) and data processing.
The numeric value of the code in human readable figures is printed beneath the symbol.
- EAN bar code symbology for retail units
The data carrier for retail units, books/ magazines is the EAN bar code symbology.
This symbol is designed to be read omni-directionally by a scanner.
- EAN bar code symbology for trade items
For the data carriers of trade items, there are two possibilities :
If identified by an EAN-13 number, the symbol chosen will be either an EAN-13 as seen above, an EAN-128 with an Application Identifier (01), or an ITF-14 symbol.
If identified by an EAN-14 number, it will be marked with an ITF-14 or an EAN-128 symbol with an Application Identifier (01).
The ITF symbol
Another bar code symbol-marking technology is the Interleaved Two of Five (ITF). Especially adapted to the poor quality of packaging materials frequently used for trade items (corrugated cardboard), it is designed to be read by a fixed or portable bi-directional scanner.
The UCC/EAN-128 Symbology and Application Identifiers
The UCC/EAN-128 Symbology uses Application Identifiers (AIs) to define the data architecture. AIs are prefixes which, followed by the relevant data, determine the contents of a wide range of information. AIs may be used for, amongst other things, item identification, measurements, quantities, traceability, dates, transaction references and location numbers.
AIs and their data must be represented by the EAN-128 bar code symbology.
Note: When encoded in an ITF or in a UCC/EAN-128 symbol, the EAN-13 article number must be preceeded by a leading zero.
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3. QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
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Quality in the use of EAN bar codes is achieved when the right code, in the right place, reads every time.
It implies that the company using EAN standard should follow specific rules for the numbering of items and the symbol marking.
- Numbering
Manage Uniqueness
- the number has not been used before (or at least 3 years have elapsed since it was last used for a different product).
- every variant of the item is allocated a unique separate EAN number.
- packaging units have been assigned a different number from the number shown on the consumer unit they contain.
Verify Check Digit is correct
Inform trading partners on the EAN numbers assigned to any new product, at all level of pakaging, at least 3 weeks before delivery.
- Barcoding
Color Scheme : Scanners read bar codes by using red light to recognise the contrast between the bars and spaces of the symbol. Colours that will scan effectively need to be chosen. Black bars against a white background are the safest choice, but other combinations will also work.
Size : The choice of inks, printing techniques and substrates will determine the size of the bar codes, and printability tests will need to be carried out by the printer to determine the correct magnification factor to use.
Light Margins : The light margins around the bar codes are vital, they enable the scanner to identify the beginning and the end of the bar code.
Position on the Item : The symbols situation on the packaging will follow specific rules according to the environment in which the unit will need to be scanned (retail, transport, ...)
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