Frequently Asked Questions
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U.P.C. Numbers
Question: What is a U.P.C. Number?
Answer: U.P.C. stands for the Universal Product Code. A U.P.C.
number is used to identify a single product, and is twelve digits in length.
These original twelve digits consist of a 6 digit manufacturer identification
number, followed by a five digit item number, followed by
a one digit calculated check digit.
The manufacturer identification number is obtained by each
manufacturer from GS1 (formerly the Uniform Code Council or UCC) located in
Princeton, NJ. To apply for a manufacturer ID number, or to verify your existing
number, contact GS1 directly at their local number 609-620-0200 or go to
http://www.gs1.org/contact
for contact details of your local office.
Separate item numbers are assigned by the manufacturer to each unique
product. These must be all-numeric (no alpha characters) and 5 digits in length.
Some manufacturers choose to randomly assign these numbers, by starting at
"00001" and incrementing by 1 for each item. Others prefer to assign
some intelligence to the numbers, but this is not recommended.
The calculated check digit is the twelfth and final digit in
the U.P.C. code. It is calculated based on a specific algorithm, and is
necessary to ensure that no errors exist in the bar code. This is particularly
useful for the exception condition when the barcode is unreadable at retail
checkout. Keyboard errors are eliminated through the use of the check character
(12th digit).
For expanded
information about the GS1 bar code system and the changes
made in 2005
check this out.
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