The Complete GS1-128 Guide

Regulated Data Structure

GS1-128 (formerly UCC/EAN-128) is a specialized application of the Code 128 symbology. It is the global standard for exchanging data in the supply chain between trading partners.

Application Identifiers (AIs)

The primary power of GS1-128 lies in its Application Identifiers. These are prefixes in parentheses that tell the system exactly what kind of data follows:

• (01): Global Trade Item Number (GTIN).
• (17): Expiration Date (YYMMDD format).
• (10): Batch or Lot Number.
• (21): Serial Number.
• (00): SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code).

The FNC1 Character

A GS1-128 barcode must contain the FNC1 (Function 1) character immediately after the start character. This non-printable character signals to the scanner that the data follows the GS1 standard, separating it from standard Code 128 barcodes.