Advice on assigning GLNs

GS1 Australia members can assign Global Location Numbers (GLNs) through two different methods.

  1. Full members can assign GLNs from their GS1 Company Prefix OR have GS1 Australia assign GLNs directly to you in packs of 10, 100 and 1,000.

  2. Members without a GS1 Company Prefix can have GS1 Australia assign GLNs directly to you in packs of 10, 100 and 1,000.


Further advice for full members with a GS1 Company Prefix

Full members with GCPs should note that we have observed some challenges with the practice of assigning GLNs from a GCP as it can cause confusion -

  • Within your company’s operations as it can be a struggle to clearly differentiate the numbers within your own systems

  • With your trading partners that use both GLNs and GTINs

  • In situations where company acquisition and mergers take place and numbers need to be allocated between multiple entities.

We therefore suggest that you consider all of these implications when deciding on the best way for you to assign your GLNs. If you decide to utilise the packs managed by GS1 Australia, please note that there is an extra charge for that product. 
 
Whilst GS1 standards support either method of assigning GLNs, our recommendation is that the value of the GLN is not the same as any value that you have already assigned to Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs).
 
Locations (accessible within the MyGS1 Portal) support the assignment of locations from individual GLN packs or from GCPs purchased after 24 July 2025. If your organisation licenses GCPs, you will not be able to use this tool to assign locations from a GCP purchased before this date. Instead, you should manage these assignments within your operations and systems.