GS1 approved standards provides a global system of standards for the accurate identification
and communication of information regarding products, assets, services and locations.

GS1 approved Codebar

The GS1 Identification Keys are numbering schemes for products, locations, patients, caregivers and assets. They are the basis for the four key technology areas covered by the GS1 systems:

• GS1 Barcodes – Global data and application standards for bar codes that use the globally recognised GS1 Identification Keys to automatically identify things such as trade items, locations, logistic units, and assets
• GS1 eCom - Global standards for electronic business messaging that allow rapid, efficient and accurate automatic electronic transmission of agreed business data between trading partners. Based on two components: GS1 EANCOM and GS1 XML
• GS1 GDSN – The Global Data Synchronisation Network” (GDSN”) is an automated, standards-based, global environment that enables secure and continuous data synchronisation , allowing all partners to have consistent item data in their systems at the same time. Global Product Classification (GPC) is a key component of GDSN , enabling effective category management
• GS1 EPCglobal – A new global standards system that combines RFID (radio frequency identification) technology, existing communications network infrastructure and the Electronic Product Code (a number for uniquely identifying an item) to enable immediate and automatic identification and tracking of an item through the whole supply chain globally, resulting in improved efficiency and visibility of the supply chain

GS1 standards cover identification standards across all industry sectors but the standards below related to healthcare;

• GTIN Allocation Rules for Healthcare
• EPCglobal Pedigree Messaging Standard

Any company supplying products to the healthcare sector needs to be aware of these standards and work towards implementing them in order to future proof their auto id systems.

Why are GS1 approved standards important?

Traceability and efficient handling of products within the healthcare sector relies on the operation of effective auto id systems by manufacturers and distributors. This can only be achieved with consistent standards for identification regardless of technology utilised. GS1 provides an open, collaborative, technology independent system of standards that help achieve this goal.

Many global healthcare businesses are already implementing the GS1 healthcare standards for example Merck, Novartis Pharma, Baxter, Smiths Medical, Johnson & Johnson and many more.

How will it affect my labelling system?

GS1 standards will impact the structure of the barcodes and RFID messages your system uses. Current labelling / rfid systems will need to be adapted to create GS1 compliant barcodes and RFID messages.

If you are looking to upgrade your auto id system ensure that your supplier is up to date with GS1 standards in healthcare and that the product is able to produce compliant barcodes and RFID messages. The software should also be able to verify GS1 barcodes and RFID messages and automatically flag up any non compliant items.

To find more about GS1 approved standards, visit www.gs1uk.org for more information. You may also, search through the worldwide web pages to find your nearest GS1 group.

There are regular industry related newsletters to subscribe to which will keep you up to date with the latest developments and useful events and publications.

What is PRISYM^ID doing about GS1 approved Codebar?

PRISYM^ID are members of AIM (Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility) and are involved with the Global GS1 Global Healthcare Group as part of work teams looking into different aspects of GS1 adoption.

Our software products incorporate GS1 standards allowing users to create, print and verify GS1 approved barcodes and RFID messages to GS1 standards. We are dedicated to a continuous programme of development ensuring our software complies with changes to the GS1 approved standards in addition to industry regulations such as FDA 21 CFR part 11 and MHRA standards.
Our commitment to the “Good Manufacturing Practice” (GMP) process underpins our development approach and life cycle documentation is available for all our healthcare and life sciences products.

For information on PRISYM^ID GS1 healthcare labeling systems please contact the PRISYM^ID Life Sciences team or leave a comment on this post… we love to hear from you ……

The GS1 Sunrise date for GS1 Global Location Number (GLN) to standardize location identification is 2010 and 2012 for GS1 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) to standardize product identification.

This of course means many drug and medical device manufacturers supplying healthcare providers are going to be looking very closely at their identification systems to ensure that they can meet health providers’ expectations.

The PRISYM ID team has been working hard to support our medical device and drugs manufacturing customers in their adoption of the GS1 standards.  Our software includes a handy GS1 bar code checker that means a non compliant bar code can’t be accidently printed.  This along with the easy creation of GS1 bar codes in PRISYM software means our customers can quickly adapt their systems.

Learn more about the GLN 2010 and GTIN 2012 Sunrise dates at www.gs1us.org/hcsunrise

News from around the world:

• Amerinet and Premier endorse GS1 Standards
• Implementation of California pedigree law delayed until Jan 2015
• Coding for Success in the UK
• Early lessons learned from BRIDGE Pharma Traceability Pilot
• GHX to become GDSN-certified data pool to accelerate use of GS1 Standards in Healthcare
• 20 years of bar coding experience at Smiths Medical
• Anti-Counterfeiting Strategy at Sanofi-Aventis

GS1 Healthcare Update:

• Advocating adoption of GS1 Standards in Healthcare in Maghreb countries
• GS1 Healthcare Spain and FENIN to collaborate on GS1 Standards implementation
• GS1 Healthcare US develops Healthcare provider tool kit
• Raising awareness in Malta
• GS1 in Healthcare on Dutch Television
• GS1 Healthcare and eHealth
• GS1 Healthcare and patient identification
• GS1 & Healthcare blogged

In the UK 70 of our National Health Service (NHS) hospitals have adopted the standards and this is impacting their suppliers already.   And in Canada a group of healthcare providers known as CareNET which represents 56% of Canadian hospitals have aligned with the GS1 Canada group to work towards implementing these standards in Canada.  In the U.S the Healthcare Supply Chain Standards Coalition have also endorsed GS1 but as yet we as an identification and traceability systems supplier haven’t noticed a huge demand for GS1 compliant solutions.  Is there a tidal wave coming? Maybe people haven’t realized the impact it could have on the identification and traceability systems and technology they are developing or specifying right now or maybe the existing systems, processes and procedures deal with GS1.  I would love to hear your experiences and perspective on the importance and impact of GS1 in healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing.

For those of you that aren’t aware of GS1 I’ve posted an introductory GS1 White Paper which I thought might be useful.  You can also find more information on the global GS1 website www.GS1.org where they have a section for healthcare and links to the country groups.

Dave T.  (Product Manager, PRISYM ID)