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There are various ways of identifying and encoding items of variable weight.
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Secondary packaging must be labelled with a GS1-128 barcode.
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Please refer to the manuals at the bottom of this page for more information.
For encoding variable weight items, a distinction is made between consumer units that are scanned at the checkout and secondary packaging that does not pass through the checkout.
Consumer units
GS1 DataMatrix
What information do you encode in a GS1 DataMatrix for variable weight items?
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A GTIN-13, preceded by a meaningless 0; this is mandatory
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The net weight; this is mandatory
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Additional information such as lot number or expiry date; this is optional.
Several retailers in Belgium have already adapted their point-of-sale scanning systems or will do so soon. Discuss with your chain partners whether 2D barcodes are already supported in your chain.
GS1 DataBar Expanded (Stacked)
What information do you encode in a GS1 DataBar Expanded (Stacked) for variable weight items?
- A GTIN-13, preceded by a meaningless 0; this is mandatory
- The net weight; this is mandatory
- Additional information such as lot number or expiry date; this is optional
EAN-13 barcode with an internal number
Is the item weighed or packaged by the retailer? In that case, the retailer creates an internal number for the product themselves. This internal number is encoded in an EAN-13 barcode.
EAN-13 barcode with a national number
Is the item:
- weighed or packaged by the supplier
- and sold on the Belgian-Luxembourgish market?
Then the supplier can request a national number from GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg. This national number is then encoded in an EAN-13 barcode.
Secondary packaging
GS1-128
What information do you encode in the GS1-128 barcode?
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A GTIN-14 with a 9 as the first digit; this is mandatory
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The net weight; this is mandatory
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Additional information, such as the lot number; this is optional
If various layers of secondary packaging are provided for a commercial unit of variable weight, each of these layers of secondary packaging must have a unique GTIN-14 that starts with a 9.