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GS1 General Specifications

The GS1 General Specifications function as the primary framework outlining the foundational standards of GS1 system.
  1. Download the current standard

The GS1 General Specifications is the core standards document of the GS1 system describing how GS1 barcodes and identification keys should be used.

General Specifications Change Notifications (GSCN)

Agreed changes to the GS1 General Specifications can be found on the page.

See all agreed changes

About this standard

This version: 26.0
Publication date: Jan 2026

Next version planned for
Jan 2027

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