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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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GS1 Australia
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Below are the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't find what you are looking for, please contact GS1 Australia.
- Question 1: Why do I need to join GS1 Australia?
- Question 2: What is the GS1 System?
- Question 3: What is a barcode number?
- Question 4: A company is offering to sell me a few GS1 barcode numbers. Is this legitimate?
- Question 5: How many barcode numbers do I get and do I own them?
- Question 6: Do you provide me with the actual barcode image?
- Question 7: How much does membership cost and how long does it take to get a barcode number?
- Question 8: As a distributor, do I need to apply barcode numbers to the products that I import?
- Question 9: How do I calculate my number range once I have joined?
Question 1: Why do I need to join GS1 Australia?
Answer: GS1 Australia is the only authorised organisation in Australia to administer GS1 BarCode numbers. These numbers can be used by all industries for identification of goods, services, shipments, assets and locations.
Question 2: What is the GS1 System?
Answer: The GS1 System of global standards provides a way to accurately identify and communicate information about products, assets, services and locations. The standards include numbers for the identification of objects, standards for data carriers (barcodes, RFID tags), standards for exchanging electronic messages and standards for the exchange of data between trading partners (global data synchronisation).
Use of the GS1 standards can result in significant improvements in logistics operations, a reduction in paperwork costs, shorter order and delivery lead times, increased accuracy and better management of the whole supply chain. Significant cost savings are realised daily by companies using the GS1 standards because they apply one solution to communicate with all their trading partners .
The GS1 System consists of four components
- GS1 Identification Keys - globally unique item identification numbers
- GS1 BarCodes - standards for open, global barcode symbols
- GS1 eCOM - standards for open, global ecommerce messages
- GS1 GDSN - standards for a global data synchronisation network
Question 3: What is a barcode number?
Answer: Barcode numbers are unique global numbers that can be allocated to products, logistics units, locations and/or assets. Every different variant of a product (e.g. colour, size, model, pack size, style) requires its own unique number.
GS1 BarCode Numbers are also known as GTINs which stands for Global Trade Item Numbers. Using GS1 BarCode Numbers benefits all parties in the trading cycle by reducing costs, saving time and increasing accuracy and efficiency through management of the entire supply chain.
Question 4: A company is offering to sell me a few GS1 barcode numbers. Is this legitimate?
Answer: To ensure barcode numbers are globally unique and the correct standards-based implementation support is provided to local GS1 user companies, GS1 Global has authorised one GS1 member organisation in each country around the world to manage the GS1 System in that country.
GS1 Australia is the ONLY official source for GS1 BarCode numbers and standards in Australia. The GS1 BarCode numbers allocated to companies by GS1 Australia begin with the GS1 prefix 93 and only GS1 Australia is authorised to use the 93 GS1 prefix.
GS1 Australia cannot guarantee the authenticity or usability of barcode numbers which are not issued by GS1 Australia. Buying a barcode number from an unauthorised source could result in a disruption to your normal business activities and/or lost investment. Australian businesses should exercise the greatest caution if they wish to engage any other organisation claiming otherwise.
Question 5: How many barcode numbers do I get and do I own them?
Answer: Depending on their annual turnover, businesses can request up to 5 individual barcode numbers or alternatively a range of numbers from 1,000 to 100,000. You allocate your own barcode numbers to products as you require them.
GS1 is the title owner of the GS1 System. As long as you comply with the GS1 Australia License Agreement and remain a financial member of GS1 Australia you are licensed to use the GS1 System of numbering and barcoding.
Question 6: Do you provide me with the actual barcode image?
Answer: No, GS1 Australia does not print barcode images, or provide equipment to print barcodes or supply digital barcode files. These services are provided by specialist printing and equipment suppliers.
GS1 Australia’s role is to administer the numbering standard that provides you with access to the global market and to your local trading partners to automate your supply chain. However, GS1 Australia does provide an online Solution Providers Directory where you will find contact details of GS1 Australia Alliance partners, to supply your hardware and software needs.
GS1 Alliance Partners:
- are GS1 System accredited by GS1 Australia
- are recognised for the quality and GS1 compliance of their products and services
- where appropriate, submit products to a GS1 Australia certification process
- receive regular updates from GS1 Australia
Find out more information or view the GS1 Australia Solution Providers Directory.
Question 7: How much does membership cost and how long does it take to get a barcode number?
Answer:GS1 BarCode numbers are licensed to subscriber members on an annual basis. An annual licence fee must be paid at the start of July every year to ensure the licence is current.
The fee depends on your businesses’s published annual turnover and the number of barcode numbers you have licensed. GS1 Australia processes new memberships and number applications daily Monday to Friday and once processed you will receive a confirmation by email or fax and an official membership pack will be mailed to you within 2 business days.
Question 8: As a distributor, do I need to apply barcode numbers to the products that I import?
Answer: Regardless of where and by whom the product is manufactured, the brand owner is responsible for the allocation of the barcode number. However, if the importer or wholesaler is to sell the product under a different brand or modify the packaging in any way, then a new barcode number must be allocated to the product. This would then make the importer or wholesaler responsible for allocating a new barcode number to the product.
Question 9: How do I calculate my number range once I have joined?
Answer: By logging on to www.gs1au.org and using our Check Digit Calculator, you then need to enter your number range in the GTIN-13 number field for your first 1000 barcode numbers