Global Trade Item Number
Global Trade Item Number® (GTIN®) is the globally unique GS1 identification number used to identify trade items, which includes both products and services that are sold, delivered, and invoiced at any point in the supply chain. GTINs are assigned by the brand owner of the product, and identify manufacturer’s products as they move through the global supply chain to the hospital or ultimate end user.
The rules for assigning GTINs ensure that every variation of an item (product or service) is allocated a single reference number that is globally unique. Once assigned, all trading partners and internal users can use and reference the GTIN. It is encountered most frequently at point-of-sale and on cases and pallets of products in a distribution/warehouse environment. GTINs can be encoded into various types of GS1 bar codes and Electronic Product Codes™ (EPC) which are programmed into Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags.
The GTIN is a required component of the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) and various types of e-commerce transactions. They are most commonly used on purchase orders and delivery and payment documents.
Frequently Asked GTIN Questions
GTIN Allocation Rules for Healthcare
