It starts with identification
You need a unique GS1 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) to sell your product anywhere in the world, both online and in a physical shop. And to be able to follow your products through the chain on their product journey, you uniquely identify your company, branch, farm staff or orchard with a GS1 Global Location Number (GLN).
Passport for your product
The GTIN is a unique passport with which every partner in the logistics chain can recognise your product. And if you add a symbol, it can also be scanned. After you have purchased GTINs and added them to MyGS1, they will automatically appear in a worldwide network, so that everyone can see which code belongs to which article. Like a real passport.
Key to more product information
The GTIN is also a key to much more information. After registration, the code allows you to add product information in GS1 Data Source, our data pool which uses the worldwide GDSN network. Within this network, you share product data with your customers, such as retailers. To identify your company within the data pool, you use a GS1 Global Location Number (GLN). If you sell to larger retailers, they will often ask you for your GLN.
Tracking origin and location
Would you like to be able to follow products on their journey through the supply chain? Or are you curious about the origin information? More and more trading partners, certification bodies, quality organisations and government bodies want to know who is responsible for what in the chain or at what location an operation takes place.
With a GS1 GLN, you can identify locations at various levels within your company, fields, greenhouses or a distribution centre. This increases the traceability of products and allows you to unambiguously determine the origin. The location code is also accepted as identification for certification in accordance with Qualität & Sicherheit (QS) and Milieukeur. A GLN can be scanned in the form of a barcode.
2D barcodes
Since the introduction of the barcode in 1974, the world has changed considerably. Technology is advancing and the demands for more and better information are growing. 2D codes can support modern supply chains and consumer needs. In addition to the information contained in the GTIN, 2D codes can contain a large amount of extra information, such as a web address, guarantee, recipes, installation instructions, best-before date, serial number and batch number.
Legal obligations labels for fruits and vegetables (AGF products)
The European Union imposes requirements on what must be included on consumer and commercial labels of potatoes, fruits and vegetables (AGF products). We have a guideline available so you can meet these requirements.
Cooperation with Frug I Com for fruits and vegetables (AGF products)
The requirements for potatoes, fruits and vegetables have increased considerably in recent years. By using GS1 GLNs, companies can meet these requirements. For the assignment of GTINs and GLNs to these products, we work closely with Frug I com. They offer service packs on their website and provide guidance on the application and assignment of the codes.