International Article Number (EAN)

The European Article Number ( EAN ) is the former (since 2009 unstuck ) designation for the Global Trade Item Number ( Global Trade Item Number). It provides an internationally unique product labeling for commercial item represents the number consists of 8 or 13 digits, of which centrally manages the first 2 or 3 or 7, 8 or 9 digits through the GS1 group and manufacturers at the request of a Global Location Number will be awarded. In Germany paying license fees to the GS1 Germany for the award.

The EAN / GTIN is printed in the rule as a machine- readable bar code on the product packaging, and can be decoded by barcode scanners, for example at scanner checkouts.

A common understanding of error is the name of the GS1 prefix country code. There is only one prefix to be assigned to the local GS1 organizations. The GS1 customers who buy a company number of GS1, always will have a company identifier that consists of the GS1 Prefix with company number behind asked. A GS1 customer can buy his company number from any GS1 location and then produce again in many other countries. (See GS1 General Specification Section 2.1.2.1.1 Quote:. "The GS1 Company Prefix is of allocated by GS1 Member Organisation a to a system user ID It makes the number unique worldwide but does not identify the origin of the item GS1 Company.. prefixes starting with GS1 prefixes 000 to 019, 030 to 039, 060 to 099, 100 to 139, 300 to 969, or 977 to 979 in the first three digits are used in this element string. " )

Furthermore, the number ( GTIN or EAN ) is often equated with the barcode type EAN (ISO / IEC 15420 ). Actually, this is one of the barcode as media that encodes a number, and transported and the number is the GTIN or another of the variants described below. Other codes that can encode the GTIN, for example, GS1 -128, GS1 Datamatrix and ITF 14th

History

In 1973 was introduced in the U.S., the Universal Product Code UPC 12- digit numbers. A year later one made in Europe start to think about a similar system should be compatible with the UPC. To this end, UPC has been supplemented by a leading digit to thirteen points. A UPC -A code, by adding to an EAN code a leading zero.

In 1977, the European Article Numbering Association was founded, which was later renamed EAN International and running since 2004 under the name of GS1 Global. It has member organizations in over one hundred countries and also includes the American Uniform Product Code by the Uniform Code Council (now GS1 U.S.).

On 1 January 2005, the EAN- 13 were de facto introduced in North America, but was also a transition to the 14- digit GTIN recommended (see links).

The philosophy of the EAN / GTIN heard the consistent use of techniques of automatic identification and data capture. Be used consistent methods for data exchange over EAN128 between the companies involved as well as the electronic transmission of data via EDI, including the EANCOM standard was developed. Currently, the standard is further developed in the Electronic Product Code.

Advantages of the EAN / GTIN

• Faster registration of the goods at the checkout
• Non-overlapping identification of the products
• Higher security ( less typing mistakes or errors )
• Facilitate trade, automated warehousing
• No price tag on the goods required, price should be only on the shelf (which is for the customer due to lack verifiability at the checkout more of a disadvantage )
• Transparent, global standardization (currently 90 % of all goods )

Brief description of the item number ( formerly EAN -13)

The 13 digit Global Trade Item Number ( formerly EAN -13, GTIN today ) mean:

• Base number ( seven to nine digits ) of the Global Location Number. Composed of: Country prefix GS1 member company ( three digits), for example 400-440 for Germany, 760-769 for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, 900-919 for Austria
• Company number (similar to old BBN Uniform Federal operation number)

In Germany, since January 2001 7 1 -, 8 - and 9- digit base numbers assigned.

Prefixes are not "talking" ingredients such as " origin indicator ". There are number ranges of the respective GS1 member companies. There are also reciprocal transfers of part of series or the extraterritorial participation of manufacturers. A detached from the remaining digits of the number processing can therefore lead to misunderstandings. Holdings may GLN license that is uniquely assigned and managed by the appropriate GS1 Member Company. The item number is freely available for each member company. Depending on the company headquarters and supply company and responsible GS1 Member Company therefore do not have the prefixes indicate the origin country.

The check digit is used for data security and is derived from the weighted sum of the digits ( see below).

EAN- 8 Brief description / since 2009 GTIN - short number

The shortened version of EAN -8 is specifically intended for small articles, on which a EAN -13 more than 25 % of the space would be required on the front. It has the following structure:

• GS1 country prefix ( 2-3 digits )
• Item number (residual bodies ie 4-5)
• Check digit (1 digit )

An EAN -8 / GTIN - short code is to apply a rule separately at the local GS1 organization. An EAN -8 with the start number 2 can be free of charge in your own organization, but it is not globally unique. Any other EAN -8 must be requested and paid for separately, accompanied by a sample of the article.

Examples:

• Aldi Nord encoded own products with an EAN - 8 of the form 290X -XXXX, 290 is a " country number " for internal use.
• Aldi Süd encoded own products with an EAN - 8 of the form 221x -XXXX, 221 is a " country number " for internal use.

EAN- information

GS1 Press Code (formerly EAN -13 for books ) with integrated ISBN and ISSN for periodicals

The 13-digit EAN-13/GTIN-13 after system GS1 is formed as follows:

Examples ( the bold part in each case remains the same):

• Is the GS1 Press Code 9783125171541 From ISBN-10 3-12-517154-7.
• Is the GS1 Press Code 9783161484100 From ISBN-13 978-3-16-148410-0.
• From ISSN 1144875X is the GS1 - press code 9,771,144,875,007th

The embedding of the ISMN (International Standard Music Number ) for printed music as it is using.

The ISBN -13 and GS1 - press code of a book (up to the notation with or without dashes ) are identical. An EAN -13 for books and " Bookland " number is called. The 4th to 8th digit maximum is therefore ( according to the 1st up to the 5th digit of the ISBN ), a code for the language area - for example, 3 for Germany, 57 for Denmark or 99953 for Paraguay.

Some manufacturers of software and multimedia products forgive their products several EANs.

In addition, an extension of the GS1 - press codes is possible to add-on code ( additional identification ) of 2 or 5 digits. In add-on, for example, prices, output variant, or month can be encoded by magazines. In EAN-13/UPC-Symbols (barcode) they are readjusted reduced.

Newspapers and magazines in Germany

In Germany sold magazines are not marked with the appropriate GS1 - press code ( ISSN - embedding ). You will receive instead a standard GTIN -13 with the following structure:

• Country code 419 for the press at the reduced rate of VAT or 414 for the full tax rate
• A five-digit track number of the magazine, awarded by the VDZ
• The four-digit price in cents
• The check digit according to the usual method of calculation.

The thus formed GTIN -13 thus contains not more the entire ISSN, but for the price, which is equal on the basis of book prices anywhere in Germany. This is particularly advantageous for smaller outlets that do not have a merchandise management system, with the GS1 - press code can be assigned to the price.

Since 1 January 2012, the country codes are 439 and 434 used for magazines notwithstanding, where the booklet is accompanied by a disk with an FSK or USK age restriction (mostly DVDs with movies or computer games). This allows scanner checkouts to ask the seller to verify the age of the buyer.

Through a 2 - or 5- digit add-on code, the sequence number and possibly the output variant of the booklet encoded at daily newspapers also the day of the week.

Style Number Intersection

Style number overlaps occur especially when products are subject to lifecycles. After the passage of a cycle, the item numbers of the previous cycle are used frequently. A cycle takes two years to complete and is divided into seasons. The seasons are distinguished by letters, whereby there is a maximum number of seasons. In addition, division and class memberships are in the item numbers which are only five digits, hidden, which could increase the repetition effect yet.

In-store item numbers (formerly EAN- codes)

For supermarkets or other retailers is a special GS1 prefix available. Is exclusively internal use and is used for example to be able to provide the weighed food on site with a barcode.

• 2xx ( rather than the country number )
• Item number (4 digits)
• Weight, quantity or price (5 points )

This code is used mainly for fruit and vegetables as well as meat and sausages. Also, use different food discounters, such as Aldi, these business- internal -store item number in the abbreviated form.

Begins an EAN with a country code of Japan ( 450-459,490-499 ), then it is called EAN this also in January There are no other differences. Basis is here JIS X 0501 (JIS: Japanese Industrial Standards).

EAN bar code to encode the GTIN (formerly EAN -13)

The code families UPC -A, EAN -8 and EAN -13 all use the same encoding. The encoded information is repeated by a numerical indication of plain text below the barcode.

Coding

The entire code consists of 95 equally wide areas. Each of these areas can be black ( is 1 ) or white ( is 0 ) be. There follow each other a maximum of four black areas, together they form a line. Just follow each other a maximum of four white areas and together form a free space. In addition to the areas that encode the numbers, there are three areas that encode special: The episode 101 at the beginning and end of the code ( rim sign ), and the result 01010 in the middle of the code ( delimiter).

Each digit is represented by seven bits. These are chosen such that in each case two lines, and two spaces represent one digit. The information is coded in the width of lines and spaces.

The numbers on the left are coded so that they always start with a free space ( 0 ) and end of a line; beginning on the right side always with a line and end with a space. On the right side all the digits are encoded with a binary number, which has a straight cross sum. On the left side, however, another digit is encoded by a specific sequence of even and odd.

In the following table, the corresponding mapping is listed.

For each digit, there are three mutually very similar codes: left straight and right are mirror- symmetrical to each other, left odd is the bitwise inverse of the right.

The reading direction decides the fact that the first digit of the right always being encoded and the first digit is odd encoded by the left. It is therefore indifferent to the direction in which the article on the reader is led, the decoding internally rotates the code so that all the right numbers are currently being encoded.

Example

C1, C3: Start-/Endmarker. C2: markers for the middle of the barcode. 6 digits to the left of the center ( 003 994 ) and 6 digits to the right of the center, including the check digit ( 155 486 ): Numbers 0-9, each encoded by seven bits in two lines, and two spaces to the width of 1 ( small ), 2, 3 and 4 Orientation: UGUUGG UUUUUU (U = odd, G = even ) The 13th number at the beginning: In the first block the line codes of the second, fifth and sixth place bear the additional information being encoded according to start C1, all other odd -coded: UGUUGG is loud encoding the 13th digit is a 4

The full number is therefore 4 003 994 155,486th

Decoding

Through the separator in the middle, it is sufficient for a simple line scanner, each to capture only one half of the code. This allows reconstruction of a code by said reading means in a helical scan of the code to an angle of approximately 45 °.

GTIN -12 GTIN -13 versus

The GTIN -13 / EAN -13 encodes a thirteenth sign by the choice of even and odd in the left part of the code.

The GTIN -12 / UPC -A encodes only 12 digits, because in the left part of the code all always be chosen odd.

Check digit

The check digit of the GTIN (former EAN ), the last digit, calculated by the digits from right to left, starting with the next to last (), alternately multiplied by 3 and 1, and then these products are added:

(). The check digit () adds that sum to the nearest multiple of 10

The sample for this purpose:

Simplified one can say: The sum of all the " odd " digits plus three times the sum of all "even" points must be divisible by 10.

Example (see above), EAN: 5 449000 09624-1

Alternatively ( only works for 13 digit EANs ):

Sum of all odd positions = 5 4 0 0 9 2 = 20

Sum of all the even positions ⋅ 3 = ( 4 9 0 0 6 4) = 3 ⋅ 69

Sum total = 20 69 = 89

90-89 = 1

It follows: check digit = 1

The same procedure is also common for other product codes.

There is also a Prüfziffernrechner the Internet ( → External links ).

Check digit calculation in spreadsheet programs:

EAN -13 without check digit (12 digits) entered in cell A1:

=$A$1*10 REST(10-REST(RECHTS($A$1;1)*3 LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;2);1) LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;3);1)*3 LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;4);1) LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;5);1)*3 LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;6);1) LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;7);1)*3 LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;8);1) LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;9);1)*3 LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;10);1) LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;11);1)*3 LINKS(RECHTS($A$1;12);1);10);10)

Other product labeling

While a GTIN (former EAN ) an article only in kind identified ( for example cola can 0,33 L), can an EPC by an additional serialized part number every single article can be distinguished (eg could be any Coke can from each are other distinction ). In the EPC are usually the GS1 numbering systems such as GTIN (former EAN ) for articles, NVE ( SSCC) for transport units and GRAI encrypted for reusable transport containers. To determine which number system is encoded in the EPC, it additionally contains a header for this purpose. This header can then be accessed target certain EPC from RFID-Schreib-/Lesegerät. The permissible for the EPC RFID technology was standardized as the EPC itself by EPCglobal. According to the standard EPC Gen 2, the 18000-6 Part C was also published as ISO, only those RFID transponder for storing an EPC approved, operating in the frequency range of 900 MHz ( UHF).