What is a GTIN?

GTIN = Product Barcode Number

A Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is the globally unique identification number allocated to identify a trade item (a product or service) that may be priced, ordered or invoiced at any point in any supply chain. The GTIN is created using a GS1 Global Company Prefix.

A GTIN is assigned by the brand owner and may be 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits in length.

GS1 recommends that every GTIN be represented in software applications as 14 digits by right justifying and zero filling left, when appropriate e.g. 05391234560121 for a GTIN-13 and 00000053912345 for a GTIN-8.

The number of GTINs you can create depends upon the length of your Company Prefix - the shorter your prefix the more unique items you can identify from that licenced prefix.

In Ireland Company Prefixes are available as 7, 9 or 11 digits enabling an organisation to identify 100,000, 1,000 or 10 products respectively.

Read more about GS1 prefixes and view licence fee information here.