About GS1 Standards

The GS1 standards are designed to help you identify, capture and share information with your trading partners – wherever you are in the world. Our standards are the global language of business.

Why use GS1 standards?

Well-designed standards are the foundation for clear, understandable exchanges between trading partners. By using them, you can keep costs down and reduce complexity in your supply chain.

The GS1 standards are:

• Global – no matter where you operate, the GS1 standards will work

• Robust – they are purpose-built by industry, for industry

• Multi-sector – they work within any organisation or business, and are widely adopted across different sectors

• User-generated – they are built and maintained through a global, collaborative forum of volunteers from all industries

• Scalable – they can be used by small businesses or multinationals

What is new in the latest version GS1 General Specifications Version 26.0:

The latest release of the GS1 General Specifications introduces several important updates to improve clarity, regulatory alignment, and support for emerging technologies. Few of the main highlights are as follows:

GS1 Identification Standard
The Identification standard is now consolidated into a single section (Section 1), providing a clear connection to ISO/IEC standards — a key consideration for regulatory compliance.

Expanded Data Carrier Options
QR Code and DataMatrix with GS1 Digital Link URI syntax, along with EPC/RFID, have been approved as additional data carriers for some specific application standards.

New Data Carrier for Extended Packaging
NFC has been added as an additional data carrier option for extended packaging applications.

Telecom Industry Application Standard
A new application standard for the telecom sector has been introduced, including four new GS1 Application Identifiers tailored to industry needs.

Patient Demographics
A new Application standard Supporting the verification or validation of subject of care (patient) has been added subsequent to the already existing Use of demographic data to support verification or validation of personal identity

Alignment of Units of Measure
Data title abbreviations are now aligned with UN ECE 20 standards, ensuring global consistency.

Revamped Multiple Data Carrier Management
The section on managing multiple barcodes has been expanded to cover all types of data carriers — not just barcodes — and now applies to trade items as well as assets, documents, and other entities.

Symbol Specification Table Corrections
Updates to SST 4 and SST 9 ensure alignment with the notes regarding 2D X dimension, improving accuracy and implementation guidance.