Each product variation needs its own GS1 GTIN™. “Variations” means each size, each colour, each combination of sizes and colours. For example, if you sell a one-size T-shirt in three colours, you’re selling three variations, so you need to assign three different GS1 GTINs™. If you use the same number for all the T-shirts, you won’t know which colour to send to your customer. • Not sure how many GTINs you need? Use the Barcode estimator: (gs1za.org/solutions/barcode-estimator/).

The GS1 GTIN™ rules, also known as the GS1 GTIN™ Management Standard, are guidelines and rules to follow when assigning a new GS1 GTIN™. Respecting the GS1 GTIN™ rules is essential to ensuring your product is uniquely and correctly identified in the GS1 system. • Want to learn more about the GS1 GTIN™ rules? Consult our online “decision tool” (gs1.org/1/gtinrules/en/decision-support), or our GS1 GTIN™ management standard (gs1.org/1/gtinrules/en/).

Each product needs its own unique GS1 GTIN™. Every individual product requires its own GS1 GTIN™ and every variation of your product (e.g. each size, each colour) requires its unique GS1 GTIN™. In other words, each item in the image here would need its own unique GS1 GTIN™. This is so that when a customer orders a particular size or colour, the marketplace knows which one to send. One GS1 GTIN™ can only be assigned to one product. However, it can be used unlimited times on the same product. For instance, the GS1 GTIN™ of a cola-bottle is unique to that size of cola-bottle but is printed millions of times every day on millions of bottles. • Unsure about assigning a GS1 GTIN™ to your product? Consult our online “decision tool” (gs1.org/1/gtinrules/en/decision-support), or our GS1 GTIN™ management standard (gs1.org/1/gtinrules/en/).

Generally, the creator or manufacturer of a product assigns its GS1 GTIN™. If you are the creator of the product, you are responsible for assigning a GS1 GTIN™ to your product. If you are selling a product created or manufactured by another company, you must use the existing GS1 GTIN™ that has been assigned to that product. If you don’t know it, you should contact the product’s supplier or manufacturer to find its GS1 GTIN™. You can never add a GS1 GTIN™ to a product that already has one. Occasionally, you may get a product without GS1 GTIN™. In that case, if you are willing to take responsibility for the trade item declarations, you are allowed to assign the GS1 GTIN™.