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Coding Standards
Standards & Normes
Barcodes use various coding protocols or symbolism that differ according
to the constraints of use or standardization.
Here are the main three used types of barcodes:
•Unidimensional or
linear barcodes ;
•Linear and pilled up barcodes ;
•Two dimensional barcodes ;
1. The EAN code:
EAN barcodes (European Article Numbering) were developed from the American
code UPC for the specific European commerce needs.
There are two variations, one uses 8 numbers and the other 13 numbers,
the latter is the most used
• EAN
13 :
As the most spread around the world, the EAN 13 code is made up of 13
numbers. It is used to identify consumer units as well as logistic ones.
• The prefix, representing the code of the country which has delivered the number of participants (2 or 3 numbers); here, 619 illustrates the case of Tunisia.
• The Participant’s number, which is delivered by the EAN organisation and related to the concerned country ( the following 4 or 5 numbers); here, it is the case of the number 40986.
• The number of the manufactured item, labelled with 4 numbers; here, it is the case of the number 8215
• The “Check Digit” which is calculated
according to the 12 first numbers composing the code; here, it is the
number 7
• EAN 8 :
The EAN 8 code is made up of 8 numbers. The assignment of this code is
only reserved for products which dimensions do not or hardly allow the
insertion of an EAN 13 code
• The prefix, representing the code of the country which has delivered the number of participants (2 or 3 numbers); here 619 illustrates the case of Tunisia
•The number of the manufactured item , labelled with 4 numbers; here, it is the number 4002
• The “Check Digit” which is calculated
according to the first seven numbers composing the code, here, it is the
number 4
• STANDARD ITF 14 :
EAN 14 code is made up of 14 numbers. It is exclusively designed for logistic
units. It contains the product code.
• STANDARD
EAN.UCC 128 :
UCC/EAN 128 CODE is used to mark commercial or transport units in case
additional information are needed (an identification of the shipper or
recipient, deadline, measure, weight, etc…)
The item's code 16191234500013 / with a date of manufacturing 11/12/2005 and a batch number A123
• Variable weights other than fruit and vegetables :
2 |
4 |
Variable
weights code other than fruit and vegetables
Manufacturer's code
assigned by GS1 Tunisia
Item’s code
Package price
Control key
• Variable weight, the case of fruit :
2 |
2 |
5 |
Fruit
variable weight code
National code of
the fruit assigned by GS1 Tunisia
Package price
Control Key
• Variable weight, the case of vegetables :
2 |
2 |
7 |
Vegetables variable
weight code
National code of
the vegetable assigned by GS1 Tunisia
Package price
Control Key
• ISBN code:
9 |
7 |
8 |
Prefix assigned
by EAN International for books
ISBN code assigned
by the National Library
Control Key