GS1

Standards & Protocols

Global standards organization managing barcodes, RFID (EPC), and supply chain visibility standards used by over 2 million companies.

GS1

GS1 is a global standards organisation managing identification and communication standards used by over 2 million companies worldwide. Best known for the barcode (GTIN/UPC/EAN), GS1 also oversees RFID standards through its EPCglobal subsidiary, supply chain visibility standards (EPCIS), and the emerging GS1 Digital Link web URI system.

GS1 Identification Keys

GS1 defines a family of identification keys, several of which are encoded onto RFID tags as EPCs:

GS1 Key Full Name RFID Encoding
GTIN Global Trade Item Number SGTIN
SSCC Serial Shipping Container Code SSCC-96
GLN Global Location Number SGLN-96
GRAI Global Returnable Asset Identifier GRAI-96
GIAI Global Individual Asset Identifier GIAI-96
GSRN Global Service Relation Number GSRN-96

Each key is encoded into the EPC memory of an RFID tag using the formats defined in the Tag Data Standard.

GS1 and RFID

GS1's role in the RFID ecosystem spans three layers:

  1. Identification -- defining what goes on the tag (EPC encoding of GS1 keys via the Tag Data Specification).
  2. Capture -- standardising how tag data is collected and filtered (through ALE and LLRP).
  3. Sharing -- enabling multi-enterprise visibility through EPCIS event exchange and ONS resolution.

Regulatory Alignment

GS1 standards are mandated or recommended by regulators worldwide. The FDA DSCSA requires GS1-compliant serialisation for pharmaceuticals. The EU Digital Product Passport references GS1 identifiers for product traceability. IATA Resolution 753 recommends GS1 standards for airline baggage tracking.

GS1 Digital Link bridges the physical and digital worlds by embedding GS1 keys into web URIs (e.g., https://id.gs1.org/01/09520123456788). This allows a single RFID-encoded EPC to resolve to product pages, authentication services, recycling information, or supply chain event histories via standard web infrastructure.

See also: EPCglobal | SGTIN | GS1 Digital Link

Related Content

Understanding the EPC Standard

Getting Started

…on RFID tags. Defined by EPCglobal and administered by GS1 , it provides a unique, hierarchical identifier that links…

RFID vs Barcode vs NFC vs BLE

Getting Started

…Comparison Table Attribute 1D/2D Barcode UHF RFID (GS1) NFC (HF) BLE Beacon Read range 0.05–0.5 m 0.5–12 m…

The RAIN RFID Ecosystem

Getting Started

…Alliance brand; UHF 860–960 MHz passive RFID EPC Gen 2v2 GS1 air-interface specification (latest rev.) ISO 18000-63 ISO…

How to Choose an RFID Tag IC

Tag Selection

…long serial numbers or GIAI. User memory : Required for GS1 Digital Link payloads, sensor data, or custom fields.…

RFID Tag Memory Planning Guide

Tag Selection

…(UCODE DNA) blocks. Plan its use: Data Type Bytes Notes GS1 Digital Link URI 30–80 Enables smartphone tap-to-web…

RFID in Retail: Implementation Guide

Implementation

…Tag Data Standard (see Tag Data Spec ) with your company GS1 Company Prefix and the item's GTIN. Use the EPC Encoder to…

Warehouse RFID Deployment

Implementation

…labels on the upper-left corner of all four pallet faces (GS1 recommendation). For cases, a single label on the…

RFID in Healthcare Implementation

Implementation

…Medical device symbols Symbol standards for RFID labels GS1 Healthcare Numbering and barcode/RFID standards GTIN, SSCC…

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न

The RFID glossary is a comprehensive reference of technical terms, acronyms, and concepts used in Radio-Frequency Identification technology. It is designed for engineers, system integrators, and project managers who work with RFID and need clear definitions of terms like EPC, backscatter, anti-collision, and ISO 18000.

Yes. RFIDFYI provides glossary definitions in 15 languages including English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Arabic, French, Russian, German, Turkish, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai.