EAN, GTIN, ISTC, ISNI and UPC

Owned by Noah Genner
Last updated: Nov 13, 2019 by Tom Richardson
3 min read

What is the GTIN-13 (previously known as EAN/UCC-13)?

  • International Article Number (in its thirteen-digit form)
  • Used internationally to identify single units of products
  • Hyphenation: Never hyphenated
  • Used on all types of products (not just books)
  • Sunrise 2005 encouraged all companies in the North American supply chain to ensure that their systems (including point-of-sale systems) could read and store this number as a product identifier
  • Includes both the Bookland EAN/UCC-13 numbers and identifiers in ranges issued by the local GS1 agency
  • Numerically equivalent to the ISBN-13 for products numbered with ISBNs
  • Bar coding: Uses a standard EAN/UCC-13 bar code (with or without five-digit price add-on)
  • May be easily converted to a GTIN-14 by prefixing a leading numeral and recalculating the check digit

What is the BOOKLAND EAN?

  • International Article Number (in its thirteen-digit form) is reserved for use on books and related products
  • Used internationally to identify books and related products
  • Also known as Bookland EAN/UCC-13
  • Hyphenation: Never hyphenated
  • Bookland EAN numbers are a subset of the larger pool of EAN/UCC-13 product identifiers
  • Current EAN ranges reserved for the use of books and related products are 978- and 979-
  • Should only be used to identify books and related products as defined in the ISBN Standard (and in the contract between ISBN International and GS1)
  • Numerically equivalent to the ISBN-13
  • Bar coding: Uses a standard EAN/UCC-13 bar code (with or without five-digit price add-on)
  • May be easily converted to a GTIN-14 by prefixing a leading numeral and recalculating the check digit

What is the GTIN/GTIN-14?

A GTIN is required for communication in the GDSN (the Global Data Synchronization Network used by general retailers like Loblaws) but individual publishers should not be overly concerned. A GTIN -- a 14 digit identifier -- is created by prefixing a zero in front of your Bookland EAN and this number references the same product that a Bookland EAN does.

A GTIN has other uses. Large retailers may request that the the prefix number be used to communicate information about multiple units such as carton quantity. Such communication is always a B2B arrangement between two trading partners, though you should note that while the EAN check digit is not affected by a prefix of "0", any other number will change it. The GTIN-14 check digit must be accurately given and recalculated as necessary.

Here is more detail on the GTIN:

Global Trade Identification Number (in its fourteen-digit form)

  • Used internationally to identify products
  • Also known as the EAN/UCC-14 Hyphenation: Never hyphenated
  • Encompasses the EAN/UCC-13; created by prefixing a single numeral to an EAN/UCC-13 and recalculating the check digit
  • Bookland EAN numbers may be easily converted to GTIN-14
  • BISG has established a Best Practice of prefixing a Bookland EAN with the numeral “0” (zero) to create a single-unit GTIN-14; prefixing an EAN/UCC-13 with the numeral “0” (zero) does not require the recalculation of the check digit
  • The numerals “1” through “8” in the leading position of the GTIN-14 may be used to identify packaging units (e.g. carton, pallet, container, etc.) larger than a single-unit of a product; the use of the single-digit prefix (i.e. the leading digit of the GTIN-14) to identify various packaging levels is defined by a supplier
  • The numeral “9” in the leading position of the GTIN-14 is reserved for use on products sold in variable measures (e.g. products sold by weight)
  • BISG has endorsed the use of the GTIN-14 as the primary product identifier in electronic communications; users of electronic data should check with their trading partners regarding their needs for the use of other product identifiers on this list
  • Bar coding: Uses a standard ITF-14 or UCC/EAN-128 bar code; this bar code is used only on packaging containers; single units of products do not use this bar code
  • May be easily converted to an EAN/UCC-13 by removing the leading digit and recalculating the check digit
  • GTIN-14 numbers with the leading numeral of “0” may be converted to EAN/UCC-13 numbers by simply removing the leading “0”; no check digit recalculation is necessary in such cases

What is the ISTC?

International Standard Textual Code is an ISO standard for work identification.  The definition is currently under review by ISO committees and it is not functionally available.

What is the ISNI?

International Standard Name Identifier is an ISO standard for identification of content producers.  It identifies the persona (not the person) of a content producer and can be applied to corporate entities like publishers or record companies that produce content.  The concept is simple – a unique identifier that ties together all types of published content associated with that persona whether  written (book, magazine, blog), music (performer or writer), etc.  Use of ISNI is highly recommended.  See more at:  http://www.isni.org/

What is a UPC?

A UPC is another name for a GTIN-12.  It's a product identifier. GS1 product identifiers are available as 8, 12, and 13.  Book products do not typically carry GTIN-12 unless they are stationary products.  See more at https://www.gs1.org/standards#identify