Changing GTINs§ The GS1 GTIN Allocation RulesThe GS1 GTIN Allocation Rules are endorsed by the

Global Commerce Initiative and have been developed to ensure unique and consistent identification of products world-wide.

§ Knowing When and WhyKnowing When and Why a product’s GTIN should or should not change is very important. The following slides will help you understand the most common situations.

§ This informationThis information contained here is only a partial extract from a GS1 Web Site. If you need further assistance, please visit this web site listed below or contact the GS1 US Customer Service.

§ A downloadableA downloadable illustrated PDF booklet is available at: www.ean-int.org/gtinrules/

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GTIN Guidelines• When should a new UCC-12 should be used?

Company Growth –Mergers and Acquisitions New Product Change in weight, count or volume Sample or trial product (not sold retailnot sold retail) Seasonal reasons Changes in product formulation

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Company Business Growth

• Mergers and Acquisitions$When one company purchases another

company, the purchasing company retainsretains the purchased company’s UCC-12 numbers. The purchasing company should notify the Uniform Code Council of the purchase within one year of the acquisition.

$ Product identifiers (UCC-12s) are assets to be managed during mergers and acquisitions.

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Divisional Growth

• Mergers and Acquisitions - Divisional$ If the purchasing company acquires only part of

another company (e.g., a division), it should convert the product UCC-12 numbers to the the purchasing company’s GS1 US company prefix within one year.

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Brand Acquisitions• Mergers and Acquisitions – Brands

Brand owner retains control over the GTIN

Each manufacturer will have a unique company prefix.

Assignment of UCC-12s to products needs to be managed, so uniqueness is maintained across the entire company.

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Packaging Changes

• Reformulated or Repackaged ProductsMinor formulation changes not impacting the supply

chain or consumers when replacing existing product do notdo not need a new UCC-12.

Any change in formula resulting in a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) change must must have a new UCC-12.

Any changes impacting consumers expectations, supply chains or legislatively mandated will requirewill require a new UCC-12 GTIN

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Product Changes

• Repackaged Products‡ Major change in net weight, content, product mix, count,

dimensions, or volume mean a newnew UCC-12 is assigned. Major defined as an impacting change greater than 20%

‡ A change in graphics on package or type of package itself does notdoes not need a new UCC-12.

• Description‡ A descriptive change that impacts the supply chain or

consumer expectations generally require a newnew UCC-12.

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UCC-12 Guideline – Same Products Different UCC-12s should not be assigned to the exact

same product. Some retailers insist that they need different UCC-12s to track sales in different departments within their store. THIS SHOULD BE AVOIDED!THIS SHOULD BE AVOIDED!

New language on a package sold in one market/country (single language label) that requires distinction between non-substitutable trade items at the grouping level would be assigned unique UCC-12s.

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GTIN Guidelines – Special Offers

• Multi-Pack Consumer Units☺ Bonus Packs, Buy one/Get one FreeA unique UCC-12 must be assigned to inner

packs which are also intended to be sold as consumer units (different number than the individual unit).

The individual item’s UCC-12 symbol must be hidden to avoid confusion at checkout.

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GTIN Guidelines - Example

Each should have unique UCC-12

Bonus Pack

UCC-12 is Different from “Non Bonus” Items©2005 Ace Hardware Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

GTIN Guidelines - Example

Each should have unique UCC-12

Promotion

UCC-12 is Different from “Non Promotion” Item©2005 Ace Hardware Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

GTIN Guidelines - Example

UCC-12 is Different from “Non Promotion” Item

Two Items Bound Together

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GTIN Guidelines - Example

UCC-12 does notnot change

Mail-in with Proof of Purchase

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GTIN Guidelines - Example

UCC-12 is different to facilitate reorder and inventory management

•Seasonal Product Seasonal Product (Need Unique UCC-12)(Need Unique UCC-12)

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GTIN Guidelines - Example

UCC-12 does notnot change

Free Item in Pack

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