Unique identification
Dr Heiner Lehr [email protected] Identification
• Unique identification is one of the key principles required for chain food information management
– Food being globally traded requires globally unique identification
– Local identification for products, traceable units (such as product instances), logistic units, business sites etc is not globally unique • Currently no globally unique identification products are available free of charge
Various sources. Do not copy. 2 Biggest challenge - identification Same production run Production Same date/time Same raw materials
Same number on all?
Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112 Shipping Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112 Petter Olsen 05/02/07 - © Fiskeriforskning - May be copied if source is acknowledged What’s the problem?
Batch 112 Batch 112 Batch 112
Petter Olsen 05/02/07 - © Fiskeriforskning - May be copied if source is acknowledged My box has the number 112 on it ...
• Where was this box on October 12th 2005 at 14.00? • What is the highest temperature this box has ever been subjected to? • I have taken some sample tests of the contents of this box. How do I record the fact that the samples were taken from this exact box, and not from any of the other boxes identified in the same way? • I have another box that also is identified by the number 112. Did those two boxes take the same route to get to me?
Various sources. Do not copy. 5 ISO15459
• ISO 15459 regulates globally unique identification and has a register of entities that may issue globally unique identifiers
• Scope: – ISO/IEC 15459 (part 3) specifies a unique, non-significant, identifier for products and/or items, represented in a bar code label or other ADC media attached to or incorporated into the item to meet these needs, and known as the UID.
Various sources. Do not copy. 6 The unique item identification
A UID: a) shall start with a string of characters, the issuing agency code (IAC), assigned to the issuing agency by the Registration Authority; b) shall conform to a format specified by the issuing agency; c) shall be unique in the sense that no issuer re-issues a number until a sufficient period of time has passed so that the first number has ceased to be of significance to any user responsible to the issuing agency; d) shall not contain more than 50 characters, exclusive of identifiers and overhead characters; e) shall conform to the semantic rules of ISO/IEC 15418; f) shall conform to the syntax rules of ISO/IEC 15434 when encoded in a high capacity medium; g) shall contain only numeric and upper case alphabetic characters drawn from ISO/IEC 646 (not including lower case characters, special characters or punctuation marks), e.g.: 655-9…………..would become………6559 24-86-2S……… would become………24862S 84/XPG………..would become………84XPG MP 15 86-G…...would become………MP1586G 92.885*BK……..would become………92885BK
Various sources. Do not copy. 7 REGISTER of ISSUING AGENCY CODES for ISO/IEC 15459
IAC Organisation IAC Organisation 0-9 GS1 LH European Health Industry Business Communications D NSPA (NATO Support Agency) Council LM Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson GH Ghana Revenue Authority LN ABOL SOFTWARE INC. KDK Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization ND DHL Freight GmbH (DALO) NL Koninklijke TNT POST KKR Korea Institute of Distribution and Logistics (KIDL) OD ODETTE EUROPE LA Japan Information processing Development QC European Chemical Industry Council Corporation/Electronic Commerce Promotion Center RG Xifrat Daten A.G. LB Telcordia Technologies, Inc. RH Health Industry Business Comm. Council SI SIEMENS LD Department of Defense - Defence Logistics ST European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries Information Service LE Electronic Data Interchange for Companies with UN Dun & Bradstreet Interest in Computing and Electronics VEC ECRI LF International Federation of Freight Forwarders VGT Group of Terrestrial Freight Forwarders Associations VIB IBM VTD Teikoku Databank Ltd.
…and others. See latest version
Various sources. Do not copy. 8 Significant or non-significant?
Non-significant codes
RG8-COMPANYA-12312-0
Requires lookup for information District Location Significant codes RG8-VNBTAW2A-A1-2DG-0
Vietnam Business site
Bin Tre province
Various sources. Do not copy. 9 Significant or non-significant?
Significant Non-significant • Advantages • Advantages – Contain human accessible – Very flexible information – Easy to protect – Can be used for fast – Very IT friendly processing • Disadvantages • Disadvantages – Rigid system not easy to – Needs lookup tables adapt to new requirements – Typically requires IT system – Needs more digits because of – Easier to make errors when code segmentation transcribing
Various sources. Do not copy. 10 What needs to be identified? Source: GS1 Global Traceability Standard. GS1 Source: Global Traceability
Various sources. Do not copy. 11 Types of traceable items
• A traceable item may be a – Shipment • May contain one or more logistics unit(s) – Logistics unit • May contain other logistics unit(s) • May contain one or more trade item(s) • May be a trade item
• Trade item – Trade item – Batch / Lot of trade items – Serialized trade item
• Any item that traceability partners agree is a traceable item
Various sources. Do not copy. 12 IDENTITY PROVIDER: GS1
Various sources. Do not copy. 13 Global Standard One
• GS1 offers a unique identification products. It enables data collection via barcode formats, concepts for labels and EPC/RFID and allows its user to share information via EPC Information Services and Electronic Trade.
• It is the world’s largest provider of identification systems used in retail and distribution, but has a much smaller market share in primary production.
• GS1 is a membership organisation where members have to sign up and pay a country-dependent fee. Not all countries have a local organisation and these are sometimes managed by neighbouring countries or by the head-office in Brussels. The distributed nature of the organisation makes sharing of experiences, in particular in smallholder identification, sometimes difficult. • GS1 is a recognised Issuing Agency under ISO15459
Various sources. Do not copy. 14 GS1 provides identities for
• Product type
• [Product instance (batch, item)]
• Trade Unit
• Logistic Unit
• Returnable and individual assets
• Location
• Shipment
• [Business relationship]
Various sources. Do not copy. 15 GS1 identity products and their precision Source: GS1 Global Traceability Standard. GS1 Source: Global Traceability
Various sources. Do not copy. 16 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
• The GS1 Identification Key used to identify trade items. The key is comprised of a GS1 Company Prefix followed by an Item Reference Number and a Check Digit. Online check digit calculator
Various sources. Do not copy. 17 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
Type Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 T11 T12 T13 T14 GTIN-14 N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 N10 N11 N12 N13 N14
GTIN-13 0 N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 N10 N11 N12 N13
GTIN-12 0 0 N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 N10 N11 N12
GTIN-8 0 0 0 0 0 0 N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 Retail
Example retail: GTIN-13 in an EAN-13 bar code
Items not intended for retail sale (cases and pallets of product), may use the above or alternatively may use GTIN-14 and may be encoded in ITF-14, GS1-128, GS1DataBar, or GS1 DataMatrix bar codes, and EPC RFID tags.
Various sources. Do not copy. 18 Application identifiers
• GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) are a finite set of defined identifiers used to connect physical things and logical things to information or business messages related to them
• There are more than 100 AIs
• Each Application Identifier has a two, three, or four digit numeric Prefix in front of the data to tell what the data means. For example, the AI for Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is (00) and for : Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) it is (01)
• More than one AI can be carried in one bar code.
• Each bar code has a corresponding text line for the encoded AI(s). The AI Prefixes appear in parentheses - e.g., GTIN (01)10614141000019
Various sources. Do not copy. 19 Application identifiers
Application AI
Identification of a Logistic Unit AI (00)
Identification of a Trade Item (GTIN) AI (01)
Identification of Trade Items Contained in a AI (02) Logistic Unit Batch or Lot Number AI (10)
Production Date AI (11)
• This example shows a GTIN with Due Date for Amount on Payment Slip AI (12) additional information added by the Packaging Date AI (13) use of GS1 Application Identifiers. Best Before Date AI (15) • Fixed length AIs come first, then Expiration Date AI (17) variable length AIs …many more…
The example includes GTIN, Expiration date and Lot code
Various sources. Do not copy. 20 Databar
Various sources. Do not copy. 21 Databar
• Encodes a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and AI’s (Application Identifiers) – 5 Symbologies encode GTIN only – 2 Symbologies encode GTIN plus additional AI’s
• GS1 DataBar holds a 14-digit number
• GS1 DataBar can carry GTIN-12, GTIN-13 & GTIN-14
• GS1 DataBar scanned at Retail Point-of-Sale (POS) encodes a GTIN-12 or GTIN-13
• GS1 DataBar scanned in General Distribution encodes a GTIN-12, GTIN-13 or GTIN-14
Various sources. Do not copy. 22 Example Databar: Féile foods
• The DataBar contains the following GS1 Application Identifiers: – (01) GTIN – (10) Batch Code – (3922) Price – (3103) Weight – (17) Expiry date
Source GS1 Ireland Various sources. Do not copy. 23 Advantages
• The combination of a full GTIN and batch code enables the system to automatically check if an item has been recalled and prevent accidental sale • A more detailed view of real time inventory is enabled with additional information such as batch codes and expiry date as well as the GTIN • Even small retail items are now unambiguously identified • The DataBar contains both the price and weight of each item which can be recorded at point of-sale, traditional barcodes only carry one or the other • The expiry date can also be checked and recorded at the point-of-sale and printed on the customer receipt • Best before dates are more stringently monitored • Because the batch number is recorded at the point-of-sale and printed on the receipt, customers have a copy if they lose the packaging • Batch codes recorded at the point-of-sale can be matched with customers through loyalty card schemes, enabling a recall even after the sale is completed. • Regulatory responsibilities are easily achieved with a data rich track-and-trace system
Various sources. Do not copy. 24 Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)
• The Application Identifier (00) indicates that the GS1 Application Identifier data field contains an SSCC.
• When printed in a bar code the correct symbology is GS1-128. – It may also be encoded using an EPC tag
• The SSCC is an 18 digit number that comprises of the following:
– Extension digit is used to increase the capacity of the Serial Reference • Assigned by the company; digit ranges from 0-9. – GS1 Company Prefix: A globally unique number assigned to a GS1 member – Serial Reference: The ‘serial’ part of the number assigned by the company – Check Digit: A number to ensure data integrity
Various sources. Do not copy. 25 Logistics
• SSCCs are used in logistics
Ship to - Deliver to Postal Code Within a Single Postal Authority: AI (420)
Company Internal Information: AIs (91 - 99)
Various sources. Do not copy. 26 Global Location Number (GLN)
• The GS1 Identification Key used to identify physical locations or legal entities. The key is comprised of a GS1 Company Prefix, Location Reference, and Check Digit
• A GLN is a 13 digit number composed of a GS1 Company Prefix, a Location Reference number and a Check Digit
– GS1 Company Prefix: A globally unique number assigned to a GS1 member – Location Reference number: number assigned by the company to the location – Check Digit: A modulo-10 number calculated ensure data integrity
Various sources. Do not copy. 27 GRAI
• GRAI – The GS1 Identification Key used to identify Returnable Assets. The key is comprised of a GS1 Company Prefix, Asset Type, Check Digit and optional serial number
• GRAIs are composed of an Application Identifier (8003), a GS1 Company Prefix an Asset Type, a Check Digit and optionally a serial number
– Application Identifier: AI 8003 to indicate GRAI – GS1 Company Prefix – Asset Type: The number allocated to identify the asset type – Check Digit – Serial Number Optional serial number if unique identification required (up to 16 characters)
Various sources. Do not copy. 28 GIAI
• The GS1 Identification Key used to identify an individual Asset. The key is comprised of a GS1 Company Prefix and Individual Asset Reference
• Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI) is one of the two GS1 keys for asset identification – GIAI is used to identify fixed assets – The GIAI itself has no meaning and this allows the asset to be looked-up in a database and its associated information retrieved at any point or location
• GIAIs are composed of a Application Identifier (8004), a GS1 Company Prefix and a Individual Asset Reference
– Application Identifier: AI 8004 to indicate GIAI – GS1 Company Prefix – Individual Asset Reference: serial number assigned by a company to the asset
Various sources. Do not copy. 29 IDENTITY PROVIDER: RGCODES
Various sources. Do not copy. 30 RG codes
• New global coding scheme
• “No ID without associated data”
• Variable length codes
• Different flavours – RG-0 for absolute codes – RG-4 to RG-7 non-significant codes of different lengths – RG-E to RG-H application identifier based, significant codes
Various sources. Do not copy. 31 RG CodeManager
Data suppliers Data query queried for ID XiReg
Static Data Global naming RG-CodeManager service Cache
returns resp. data data Common interface supplier and Other corresponding ID ? Data entry Data dictionary
Various sources. Do not copy. 32 ID Registry
• Registry of IDs – IDs are globally issued – Support label generation for smaller companies – Buy preprinted labels – ID is activated when minimum set of data is registered with the ID – Global data dictionary for
• items • locations • documents • companies • containers • …
Various sources. Do not copy. 33 ID queries
• Data is kept by issuer and consulted in the original place => no data duplication, always as correct data as possible
• Local cache for downtime and for companies which cannot act as data suppliers
• Security is handled by data owner: he can decide which data to disclose to whom
• Part of the data considered public => consumers can check e.g. on products
Various sources. Do not copy. 34 RG Codes – general structure
• Start with Issuing Agency Code ‘RG’ • Has a one digit type identifier which determines the length of the issuer • Has a n digit issuer, which identifies the business entity • Has a sub ID whose structure can be determined by the issuer • Finishes with a CRC
Field Name Length Total permutations Description IAC 2 1,296 RG TYPE 1 36 4 ISSUER 4 1,679,616 Identifies the node and user of issuer SUB-ID Variable (min 1) Length optional (leading zeros ignored) CRC 1 36 Error control
Minimum length 9 Maximum length 35
Example: RG4-COMP-cc...cc-C The RG-ID is defined by this code, but might be preceded by a Data Identifier for Note 1: informative purposes (and ISO 15394 compatibility) Note 2: The CRC is for error control, and is not an essential part of the RG-ID
Various sources. Do not copy. 35 Available ISSUERS and Sub IDs per TYPE
9
8
7
Sub IDs ISSUERS 6
5
4
1 100 10000 1000000 100000000 1E+10 1E+12 1E+14 1E+16 1E+18
Various sources. Do not copy. 36 An example for significant Sub IDs
RG8-VNBTAW2A-A1-2DG-0
Element Base Example Elements Possible Remarks in base combinati ons IAC 2 [A-Z,0-9]{0,3} RG 36 1296 ISO15459 registered IA
Code type 1 [0-9] 8 10 10 Country 2 [A-Z]{2} VN 26 676 2 digit ISO code for country Province 2 [A-Z]{2} BT 26 676 District 1 [A-Z,0-9] A 36 36 Business 3 [A-Z,0-9]{3} W2A 36 46656 site Location 2 [A-Z,0-9]{2} A1 36 1296 00 if undetermined, 01 if single location
Serial 3 [A-Z,0-9]{3} 2DG 36 46656 Equivalent to over 120 years of daily operation per location Check digit 1 [A-Z,0-9] 0 36 36
Total length 17 Example RG8-VNBTAW2A-A1-2DG-0 RGCodes governance
• RGCodes are distributed and managed by a private entity Xifrat Daten AG, Switzerland
• RGCodes are not a membership organisation
• Cession of code ranges is a strictly private negotiation between an entity wishing to use globally unique IDs and Xifrat Daten AG
• Single code for all purposes
• But: global acceptance is not comparable with GS1
Various sources. Do not copy. 38 DATA CARRIERS
Various sources. Do not copy. 39 One-dimensional barcodes
• EAN/UPC: – Specified for retail Point-of-Sale (POS) because they are designed for the high volume scanning environment – Used at POS and in logistics must be printed larger than the "target" size to accommodate logistics scanning – Limited to carrying GS1 Keys and special identifiers for restricted applications like variable measure trade items and internal numbering
• Databar – A family of symbols that can be scanned at retail point- of-sale (POS), are smaller than EAN/UPC and can carry additional information such as serial numbers, lot numbers of expiry dates. – GS1 DataBar symbols are already approved for global use on healthcare items that do not cross POS
Various sources. Do not copy. 40 One-dimensional barcodes
• GS1-128: – GS1-128 (UCC/EAN-128) bar codes can carry all GS1 Keys and attributes but cannot be used to identify items crossing POS
• ITF-14 – ITF-14 bar codes can only carry GTINs, can be printed directly on corrugated cartons, but cannot be used to identify items crossing POS
Various sources. Do not copy. 41 Two-dimensional barcodes
• DataMatrix – DataMatrix is a "2D Matrix" symbol and is used in logistics and healthcare – (GS1) Currently specified for items not crossing POS – Can typically contain up to 2335 alphanumeric characters – Size determines readability; error correction codes attempt to increase reliability
• QR Code – QR Codes are a "2D Matrix" symbol used in consumer facing activities – Can encode URLs – Can contain up to 4296 characters, but readability depends on size – (GS1) Currently restricted for use with applications that will involve imaging scanners within mobile devices and not for Point Of Sale (POS) processing
Various sources. Do not copy. 42 High density QR Codes
Version 10 (57×57). Content: "VERSION 10 QR CODE, Version 40 (177×177). Content: "Version 40 QR UP TO 174 CHAR AT H LEVEL, WITH 57X57 MODULES code can contain up to 1852 chars. (…)" (a total of AND PLENTY OF ERROR CORRECTION TO GO AROUND. 1,264 characters of ordinary/ASCII text, taken from NOTE THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL TRACKING BOXES" an early version of Wikipedia article)
Various sources. Do not copy. 43 Composites
GS1 13 RG-RyB3 -A08Za09-H RG-RyB3 -A08Za09-H
Verilabel + = Secure and traceable label
QR
GS1 13 RG-RyB3 -A08Za09-H RG-RyB3 -A08Za09-H Verilabel + = Secure and traceable label
QR
Can be used for product verification
Various sources. Do not copy. 44 Consumer traceability, a success?
• Just having a code will not excite consumers over a long period
• Consumers make buying decision in a very short timespan (in supermarkets, typically 21s)
• Brands are still the most important point in the decision process
• Combine with other elements such as lucky draws to create excitement
Various sources. Do not copy. 45 RFID
• Wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects
• Two basic types: – Active tags containing a battery to emit a signal – Passive tags respond to an external activation
• Different frequency bands:
Various sources. Do not copy. 46 RFID examples
47 Animal tracking
• Low frequency tags with up to 20cm range • High frequency tags with up to 1-2m range • Ultra high frequency tags with a few meters range • Form factors: – Ear tag – Transponder – Injected (not for grow-out) – Bolus (for ruminants)
Various sources. Do not copy. 48 RFID memory
• Passive tags (non-battery) typically have anywhere from 64 bits to 1 kilobyte of non-volatile memory
• Active tags have memories as high as 128 kilobytes
• Some high-memory passive tags can hold up to 32 kilobytes (16 typewritten pages of text) – Storing transport information such as temperature profile
Various sources. Do not copy. 49 General discussion RFID
Disadvantages •Price •For animals: tag application
Advantages •Excellent for automation •Good for item identification •Full pallet can be scanned at once •Easier integration with IT systems
Various sources. Do not copy. 50 Summary data carriers
One-dimensional Two-dimensional Radio-frequency barcodes barcodes identifiers (RFID) Standards: e.g. Code128 Standards: QRCode Standards: EPCGlobal
IMPORTANT: data carriers do not by themselves establish traceability
Various sources. Do not copy. 51 Thank you for your attention!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The author would like to acknowledge contributions by Francisco Blaha and Gwynne Foster, Xifrat Daten AG, FoodReg and Yakin IT Sdn Bhd. Financial support from the European Commission for research projects is gratefully acknowledged. This deck of presentations was made possible by SATNET and UN ESCAP and the author is very thankful for this opportunity.
DISCLAIMER: this presentation expresses the view of the presenter only. In particular, it does not express necessarily the views of cited international bodies and firms.
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