Healthcare GTIN Allocation Rules

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) provides a unique identification solution for Healthcare Items. When linked with the item’s batch number and expiration date, it can help provide traceability from production to patient delivery.

The English GTIN Allocation Rules for Healthcare has been translated into:

GS1 has recently instituted a policy to prohibit reassignment of GS1 Global Company Prefixes for companies producing and selling "regulated healthcare trade items" (pharmaceuticals or medical devices sold or dispensed in a controlled environment).

Work Requests have been entered to update the GS1 GTIN Allocation Rules standards to ensure that GS1 Keys for all "regulated healthcare trade items" are not to be duplicated or reused, even if the product becomes obsolete (included in Section 4.3.2).   While the policy change is in effect now, the changes to the GS1 General Specifications are not anticipated to appear until the 2013 publication.  Until then, Member Organizations will provide guidance appropriate to their region

GS1 Healthcare provides a full information on the status of GS1’s work in the area of healthcare including the Roadmap for future development. View more on the GS1 Healthcare website.