GTIN Management Rules

Guidelines for the use of GTINs

A new GTIN is always required for a new product, but you often need to assign a new GTIN when you have made changes to a product, such as major changes to the ingredients or changes in size or color.

The GTIN Management Rules describe which changes to an item require a new GTIN and which changes do not require a change of GTIN.

For more detailed information on when to change your GTIN, see the GTIN Management Rules.

GTIN management

General GTIN management rules are regulated in the GTIN Management Standard. There are also specific rules for certain industries.

Allocating GTINs

In short, the entity who guarantees the characteristics of a trade item is the one responsible for assigning it a GTIN. This is typically the brand owner, regardless of where and by whom the product is manufactured. The brand owner can be one of the following:

  • The manufacturer or supplier who produces the trade item or has the trade item produced and sells it under their own brand
  • The importer or wholesaler who has the trade item manufactured and sells it under their own brand or the importer/wholesaler that modifies a trade item (e.g. by changing the packaging)
  • The retailer who has the trade item manufactured and sells it under their own brand.

In all cases, however, a trade item should not be assigned a new GTIN unless changes have been made to the item that require a new GTIN.

GTINs canot not be reused

A GTIN assigned to an item MUST NOT be assigned to another item.

Today, products last longer through various online sales channels, much longer than they do in physical stores. That’s why GS1 has decided not to allow the reuse of GTINs.

Reuse of GTIN:

  • creates confusion for consumers and other supply chains,
  • reduces transparency,
  • reduces the possibility of traceability,
  • impairs the possibility of analysis,
  • provides incorrect information in product catalogs and similar.

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