1. EL PROBLEMA A INVESTIGAR
2.2. MARCO TEÒRICO REFERENCIAL
2.2.16. La Asertividad:
EAN International is situated in Brussels. It is a non-profit association.
EAN International and the UCC’s mission is to take a leading role in establishing a global multi-industry system of identification and communication for products and services based on internationally accepted and business-led standards. The objective is to improve the efficiency of integrated logistics, while contributing added value to partners involved, and to consumers.
EAN International and the UCC aims are to:
• promote the development of a world-wide identification system by a number that can be expressed by a machine readable barcode
• promote the harmonisation of the applications in which this number is used
• ensure that the steps taken by its members to promote the application of the system rules are consistent.
Activities include undertaking studies, liaisons, negotiations, and actions for the best interests of its members as a whole. Its main activity essentially involves developing the system, and coordinating and unifying the work carried out by its members.
EAN represents its members to international associations and institutions. Its life is unlimited.
EAN International consists of a member association (called an “EAN Numbering Organisation”) for each country or group of countries involved. In order to become a member, an EAN Numbering Organisation must
Appendix A: Glossary of Terms
AI - See UCC/EAN Application Identifier.
Algorithm - A set of steps to be taken to effect a desired calculation.
Attribute Information - Information over and above the product identification represented in a standard format.
Auxiliary character - A representation in dark bars and light bars (spaces) of data other than human readable characters, that is, start pattern, stop pattern or centre pattern.
Bar Code - A representation of characters in a form suitable for automatic data capture.
Bar Code Symbology - Term used to identify a bar code language.
Check Digit - A character included within a string of data whose value is used for the purpose of performing a mathematical check to ensure the accuracy of that data.
Concatenation - The ability of a reading system to join together the data from multiple symbols and interpret it as a single message.
Consumer Unit - An item intended for sale to the consumer at the retail point of sale, sometimes referred to as a retail item.
GLN - Global Location Number.
GTIN - Global Trade Item Number. The GTIN is used for the nique identification of trade items worldwide. It is a collective term for the various numbering formats used within the EAN•UCC System.
EAN - Originally European Article Number and also used to denote European Article Numbering Association. These are now the International Article Number and the International Article Numbering Association, but the abbreviation is maintained.
EAN/UCC-13 - The EAN/UCC-13 non-significant item number which uniquely identifies the item to which it is associated.
EAN·UCC company prefix - The unique numbers allocated by EAN Australia to every company responsible for numbering its items. The EAN·UCC company prefix, Item reference and check digit constitute the item
identification number.
Interleaved Two of Five (ITF) - One of the bar codes defined for use on trade units.
Logistic Unit - See Shipment.
Non-Retail Item/Trade Unit - Any item or standard grouping of several items made up to facilitate the operations of handling, storing, order preparation, shipping, etc.
Packaging Indicator - The American term for logistical variant.
Point of Sale (POS) - The point at which goods are purchased either in a retail or cash and carry outlet.
Retail Item - See Consumer Unit.
Shipment - A transportable unit which may either contain homogenous or a variety of consumer units or non- retail trade items sent from one trading party to another trading party. A shipment can either be a carton, a pallet, a container or truckload.
Symbol character - A single group of dark bars and light bars (spaces) that represents a specific character. A symbol character is the smallest subset of a barcode that contains encoded data.
Trade Unit - See Non-Retail Item.
Uniform Code Council (UCC) - Previously the Uniform Product Code Council; the organisation that administers the U.P.C. and other retail standards.
UCC/EAN-128 - Symbology used to represent UCC/EAN Application Identifiers.
EAN/UCC-14 - The EAN/UCC 14 digit item number which uniquely identifies the non-retail item/Trade Unit to which it is associated.
UCC/EAN Application Identifier (AI) - Prefixes which define the structure and the meaning of the data that follows in the bar code.
U.P.C. - Uniform Product Code. The American standard item number.
UPC-A - The twelve digit version of the U.P.C. number. Also used to denote the standard symbol representing the twelve digit number.
Appendix B: EAN••••UCC International Compatibility
EAN••••UCC System
All EAN member countries and the Uniform Code Council (UCC) in the United States undertake to operate their national numbering system within the EAN•UCC rules. This will ensure that any item numbered and barcoded in any one country shall be uniquely identified in all other countries and scannable on the same type of equipment. Users of the EAN•UCC System therefore benefit from this mutual compatibility.
The EAN•UCC System provides three basic strengths:
1. It is internationally compatible, currently operating in over 90 countries and implemented by over 800,000 companies world-wide.
2. It provides a standard for identification of items, services, shipments, logistic units and locations. 3. It offers solutions, which meet the needs of all industry sectors.
Uniform Code Council (UCC)
In the United States and Canada the governing body is the UCC (Uniform Code Council), which together with EAN International ensures that the integrity and compatibility of the system is maintained world-wide.
The numbering and bar coding standards for non-retail trade items are however compatible both ways between the EAN and UCC Systems.
However, at present, the EAN•UCC System for the retail item barcode has one-way compatibility with the UCC. barcode system. While products barcoded using the U.P.C. (Universal Product Code) barcode can be
recognised by all scanning equipment, not all retailers in North America and Canada have systems, which can accommodate EAN numbers and barcodes.
Many retailers in North America and Canada are able to only scan the U.P.C. barcodes but are gradually upgrading their systems and full compatibility is expected by January 2005. In the meantime, if companies are exporting retail ready products to North America and Canada for point of sale capture, companies are asked to contact their distributors inquiring if EAN numbers and barcodes are acceptable to their retail customers.
Appendix C:
EAN••••UCC Application Identifiers for the Australian Meat
Industry
Details of AI's recommended for use by the Australian Meat Industry
1. Serial Number (AI 21) - Mandatory
A serial number is a unique alpha or alpha-numeric number assigned by a company to each carcass ticket or carton label and may include bulk bins. This guideline requires that all carcass tickets and carton labels have a unique Serial Number, expandable up to 20 digits.
While there is no need to re-use serial numbers, this uniqueness in serial numbers within a plant is for at least 2 years, even if reprinted. If a ticket or label is reprinted a new serial number is to be generated. Inventory records must include serial number for carcass tickets and carton labels that have been destroyed/ reprinted. The carcass ticket or carton label serial number is the basis for unit traceability for food safety and product recall. When a serial number is applied to a carcass, the industry recognises that the serial number may include the body number and side/portion of the carcass, e.g. 0403L, where 0403 for whole body, 04031 to 04034 for each quarter of a carcass. The industry acknowledges that the serial number can be other than reference to body and side. It can be any unique numbering system for the carcass or carcass part.
Note that the uniqueness of the Serial Number cannot be guaranteed if more than one manufacturer produces a generic product and the carton is barcoded with the customer's item identification number. It may be necessary in this case to use a SSCC to ensure global uniqueness.
Data Format: Alphanumeric up to 20 characters – Thus: (21)SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
2. Production Date (AI 11) - Mandatory (if AI 13 not used)
This date is used to signify the kill date for carcass product. This AI is only applicable to unwrapped carcasses. Use Packaging Date, for cartons and if the carcass is to be packed into an outer covering at a later stage. Data Format: 6 Fixed numeric characters
Thus: (11)YYMMDD
Refer to Appendix G for the EAN•UCC Date Coding in the Year 2000 and Beyond.
3. Packaging Date (AI 13) - Mandatory (if AI 11 not used)
This date is used to signify the date of processing, wrapping, packaging and/or label generation for carton products and wrapped meats (whole or part carcass). This is not the kill date.
Data Format: 6 Fixed numeric characters Thus: (13)YYMMDD
Refer to Appendix G for the EAN•UCC Date Coding in the Year 2000 and Beyond.
4. Numbering and Bar coding of Variable Measure Non-retail trade items - Mandatory
Variable measure trade items are those items which do not have a standard weight incorporated in the GTIN. The use of the leading digit 9 in the EAN/UCC-14 digit number allows the system to identify additional information to be recorded to complete the data capture transaction. In this guideline, the additional information relates to the variable weight of the identified non-retail item, which can only be represented in the UCC/EAN-128 barcode. Carton product even if defined as a fixed weight product, is still to use the variable weight AI in the barcode.
The format for variable measure trade items is as follows:
Application Identifier (01) Leading character "9" EAN·UCC company prefix
Item reference Check Digit Application Identifier (3102) Weight AI pertaining to the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), i.e. a non-retail item, when using the UCC/EAN-128 barcode The logistical variant of 9 indicates that the item is a variable weight number. The EAN·UCC company prefix. For Australian meat industry participants this will be an 8-digit number. Item reference allocated by the company to each different product. For Australian meat industry participants have been allocated a 4- digit number which can be the AUS-MEAT code. This mathematically calculated digit validates the accuracy of the entire number AI pertaining to Nett weight in kilograms of the item identified by the preceding EAN/UCC item number The weight expressed in a 6 digit numeric character format.
The above information is a representative sample barcode only, refer to the EAN Australia User Manuals for specific instructions.
5. Nett Weight, Kilograms (AI 3100 through 3109) - Mandatory
There are a number of AI's for net weight (KGs or Pounds) and the number of decimal points for the weight. For carton products and carcasses the AI for net weight is always to be used. This is to facilitate inventory
management through the supply chain. This barcode field can also be used for accurate loading of trucks to capacity, assuming known packaging weight.
Format:
EAN/UCC Application Identifier: 3100 through 3109 (Nett Weight, Kilograms) Data Format: 6 Fixed numeric characters
Thus: (310c) WWWWWW
The fourth digit of the AI (i.e. "c" above) represents the decimal point indicator. The decimal point indicator denotes the implicit position of the decimal point that must be applied to the value encoded. For further explanation see the EAN Australia User Manuals.
6. Batch/ Lot Number (AI 10) - Optional
This guideline provides for the use of batch/ lot numbers on carton labels. When printed on carcass tickets the batch/ lot number will refer to the Slaughter floor lot number. For carcasses, the batch/lot is intended to provide for traceability to the supplier of the animals to the Slaughter floor.
The batch/ lot number for carton labels is determined at the discretion of the plant/ processor and is based on a unique 8 numeric character number. This uniqueness in batch/ lot numbers within a plant is for a minimum of 5 years. The batch/ lot number can range from one batch/ lot number per carton to one batch/ lot number per day. The objectives of batch/ lot numbers are for food safety and product recall for a group of carcasses or carton product. If a product recall requirement occurs, it would be easier identifying cartons which carry batch/ lot numbers, for recall purposes. Examples of data which would make up a batch/lot are:
• Carton numbers.
• Shift numbers
• Time of production (packing)
• Date of production (packing)
Format:
EAN/UCC Application Identifier: 10 (Batch Number) Data Format: Alpha-numeric up to 20 characters Thus: (10) BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
7. Maximum durability date (AI 17) - Optional
AI 17 is used to indicate the limit of consumption or use of an item. It is a statement about public safety and is often referred to as a "Use by date" or "Expiry date".
If such information is to be used, then either AI 17 or AI15 can be chosen at the discretion of the supplier. Data Format: 6 Fixed numeric characters
Thus: (17)YYMMDD
Refer to Appendix G for the EAN•UCC Date Coding in the Year 2000 and Beyond.
8. Minimum durability date (AI15) - Optional
AI15 is used to indicate the minimum durability date for the ideal consumption or best effective use of an item. This is a statement about the quality of the item, and is often referred to as a "Best before date" or "Sell by date". If such information is to be used, then either AI 17 or AI15 can be chosen at the discretion of the supplier. Data Format: 6 Fixed numeric characters
Thus: (15)YYMMDD
Refer to Appendix G for the EAN•UCC Date Coding in the Year 2000 and Beyond.
9. Variable Count (AI30) - Optional
AI30 is used to identify a variable count in a variable length format of up to 8 digits. This information completes the identification of variable quantity items. AI30 must always be used in conjunction with AI01 or with AI's 02 and 37. Variable measure containers are identified using a GTIN and a leading digit of '9'.When the variable measure is a count (or number of units), AI30 is used. For variable weight meat cartons AI30 may be used to specify the number of primal pieces in the carton.
Date Format: Numeric up to 8 digits. Thus: (30)QQQQQQQQ
10. Concatenation of EAN·UCC Application Identifiers
Multiple AI’s and their fields can be efficiently combined into a single barcode (concatenation), as illustrated in the example above of a variable weight item. Where this is done, the standard specifications for individual AI’s apply as they normally would.
Three parameters have to be taken into consideration for defining the maximum length of a UCC/EAN-128 barcode:
1. The physical length.
2. The number of characters encoded. 3. The number of symbol characters.
The maximum length of any UCC/EAN-128 barcode must be within the following limits:
• The physical length cannot exceed 16.5cm including light margins
• The maximum number of encoded data characters including the AI, but excluding the auxiliary characters (refer to the Glossary on its definition), is 48.
Example showing a concatenated UCC/EAN-128 barcode:
Concatenated UCC/EAN-128 Barcode
(A concatenated UCC/EAN-128 barcode identifies Item, Variable Measure and Batch Number)
Appendix D: List of EAN••••UCC Application Identifiers
Format
Notes Content AI Data
00 Identification of a logistic unit (SSCC) n2 n18
01 Identification number (GTIN) of a trade item n2 n14
02 Identification of trade items contained in a logistic units n2 n14
10 Batch or Lot number n2 an..20
11 a Production date (YYMMDD) n2 n6
12 a Due Date (YYMMDD) n2 n6
13 a Packaging date (YYMMDD) n2 n6
15 a Minimum durability date (YYMMDD) n2 n6
17 a Maximum durability date (YYMMDD) n2 n6
20 Product variant n2 n2
21 Serial number n2 an..20
22 Secondary Data For Specific Health Industry Products n2 an..29
23 b Lot number (transitional use) n3 n..19
240 Additional product identification assigned by the manufacturer
n3 an..30
241 Customer part number n3 an..30
250 Secondary serial number n3 an..30
30 Variable count n2 n..8
310 c Nett weight, kilograms, trade n4 n6
311 c Length or first dimension, metres, trade n4 n6
312 c Width, diameter or second dimension, metres, trade n4 n6 313 c Depth, thickness, height or 3rd dimension, metres, trade n4 n6
314 c Area, square metres, trade n4 n6
315 c Net volume, litres, trade n4 n6
316 c Net volume, cubic metres, trade n4 n6
320 c Net weight, pounds, trade n4 n6
330 c Logistic weight, kilograms n4 n6
331 c Length or first dimension, metres, logistics n4 n6 332 c Width, diameter or second dimension, metres, logistics n4 n6 333 c Depth, thickness, height or third dimension, metres,
logistics
n4 n6
334 c Area, square metres, logistics n4 n6
335 c Volume, litres, logistics n4 n6
336 c Volume, cubic metres, logistics n4 n6
337 c Kilograms per square metre n4 n6
340 c Gross weight, pounds n4 n6
37 Count of trade items contained in a logistics unit n2 n..8
390 c Amount payable – Single Monetary Area n4 n..15
391 c Amount payable – with ISO currency code n4 n3 + n..15
Appendix D: List of EAN·UCC Application Identifiers (continued)
AI Notes Content AI Data 392 c Amount payable for Variable Measure Trade Item – Single mometary area n4 n..15
393 c Amount payable for a Variable Measure Trade Item – with ISO currency code
400 Customer’s purchase order number n3 an..30
401 Consignment number n3 an..30
402 Shipment identification number n3 n17
403 Routing code n3 an..30
410 Ship to (deliver to) EAN"UCC Global Location Number n3 n13 411 Bill to (invoice to) EAN"UCC Global Location Number n3 n13 412 Purchase from EAN"UCC Global Location Number n3 n13 413 Ship for (deliver for - forward to) EAN"UCC Global Location Number n3 n13 414 Identification of a Physical Location, EAN"UCC Global Location Number n3 n13 415 EAN"UCC Global Location Number of the Invoicing Party n3 n13 420 Ship to (deliver to) postal code within a single postal authority n3 an..20 421 Ship to (deliver to) postal code with 3-digit ISO country code prefix n3 n3+an..9
422 Country of origin of a trade item n3 n3
423 Country of initial processing n3 n..15
424 Country of processing n3 n3
425 Country of disassembly n3 n3
8001 Roll/paper products - width, length, core diameter, direction, and splices n4 n14 8002 Electronic Serial Number for Cellular Mobile Telephones n4 an..20 8003 EAN/UCC number and serial number of returnable asset n14 n14+an..16
8004 EAN/UCC Serial Asset Identification n4 an..30
8005 Price per unit of measure n4 n6