Traceability and RFID
What are GS1 standards (GTIN, SSCC, GLN, EPCIS)?
GS1 standards identify products, logistic units, locations and assets, encode them in barcodes, QR codes and RFID, and share traceability events. A plain guide.
Quick answer
GS1 standards are the global system for identifying, capturing and sharing supply chain data. They define identifier keys such as the GTIN for products, the SSCC for logistic units and the GLN for locations; data carriers such as barcodes, GS1 DataMatrix, QR codes with GS1 Digital Link and RFID; and EPCIS for sharing traceability events.
Updated 30 October 2026. Written by the Ajinkya Technologies engineering team, reviewed by Amey Kadle.
GS1 standards explained
GS1 is a not for profit standards organisation with member organisations in more than a hundred countries, including GS1 India. Its standards fall into three groups. Identify: keys such as the GTIN (trade items that are priced, ordered or invoiced), the SGTIN (a GTIN plus a serial number, for one individual item), the SSCC (a logistic unit such as a pallet), the GLN (parties and locations), and the GRAI and GIAI (returnable and individual assets). Capture: data carriers that encode those keys and attributes such as batch and expiry, including EAN and UPC barcodes, GS1-128, GS1 DataMatrix, QR codes carrying a GS1 Digital Link, and EPC encoded RFID tags. Share: EPCIS and the Core Business Vocabulary for traceability events, and master data exchange.
Regulators increasingly reference these standards. The EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation names the GTIN as an acceptable product identifier for the Digital Product Passport, GS1 is a designated issuing entity for medical device UDI in the EU, and GS1 DataMatrix is the common carrier for the serialised identifier on prescription medicine packs.
Retail is also moving to 2D codes: GS1’s Ambition 2027 aims for point of sale systems to read GS1 DataMatrix and QR codes with GS1 Digital Link by the end of 2027, which GS1 US calls Sunrise 2027. One well designed 2D code can then serve checkout, consumer information, authenticity checks and a product passport.
Key concepts
- Identify: GTIN, SGTIN, SSCC, GLN, GRAI, GIAI
- Capture: barcodes, GS1-128, DataMatrix, QR with Digital Link, RFID
- Share: EPCIS events and master data
- Referenced by EU product, medicine and device rules
- Ambition 2027: 2D codes at retail checkout
Questions
What is the difference between a GTIN and an SGTIN?
A GTIN identifies a product type. An SGTIN adds a serial number so each individual item has its own identity, which is what item level traceability and authentication need.
Do exporters from India need GS1 barcodes?
Many customers and markets require GS1 identifiers on products and logistic units. Indian companies obtain them through GS1 India.
Can one QR code serve retail, traceability and a product passport?
With GS1 Digital Link, a single QR code can carry the GTIN, batch and serial number and resolve to different information for checkout, consumers, inspectors or a passport, subject to each regulation’s rules.
References
How we help with GS1
We build serialisation and traceability on GS1 identifiers, print and verify GS1 barcodes and DataMatrix, encode SGTINs on RFID tags, and capture EPCIS style events from the shop floor and warehouse.
Traceability rules by industry, with dates and sources, and how to build for them.
Related terms
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