Tri Minh Law firm

Code – barcode is one of the recognition technology and automated data collection based on principle: setting for the object needing to manage a range of numbers (or range of letters and numbers), then expressing under the form of a barcode so that the scanner can read. In the management of goods, they call that range of numbers and that range of lines as code – barcode of commodity.

The first code – barcode was made and have put in to use in the world since 1970s of 20^th century. Due to requirement of development of production and trade business, code – barcode technology was increasingly studied to complete, develop and was applied widely in many lines of economy and all over the world. In 1973 the first code – barcode organization was found, that was American Unify Code Council (UCC for short). In 1977, European Article Number (EAN) was founded basing on the initiative of 12 European countries, to 1984 changed into EAN International, a nonprofit organization, operating on the basic of concentration, with main aim at promoting application of EAN system worldwide in all sectors of economy – social in order to provide the common language for international commerce (especially e – commerce…). In 2005, the two organizations EAN International and UCC consolidated into a global assignment organization called GS1.

GS1 Code (eg. global trade item number, GTIN for short) is a sequence of whole numbers, including groups of numbers to prove the origin of commodity: this is which product? Produced by which company? The company is of which country? Due to such way of numbering, each kind of commodity has a unique sequence of numbers for unique recognition all over the world. This is standard code structure used to recognize products in different countries, regions, similar to telephone code structure for international contact.

GS1 Barcode is a sequence of parallel and alternate lines and spaces designed under a certain principle of coding in order to express code (or both letter and number) so that reading devices incorporating a laser (scanner) could receive and read. A reading device is connected to the computer and barcode will be decoded into a sequence of numbers automatically, giving date file related to commodity being stored in database of commodity.

So, GS1 play a part as a “key” to collect and lookup data automatically.

Preeminent features of code – barcode technology:

- Performance: Automatical recognition replacing manual taking notes should help to: reduce labours, save time, leading to incease performance.

- Accuracy: with standardized structure safe and simple, Code – barcode help to recognize exactly goods and services, replacing the stage of “entry” and “access” data by hand, so the result is accurate and unconfused.

- Quick information: Code – barcode help to collect and provide information quickly, so that businessmen and managers can give right and timely decision in operation of production, business and management.

- Customer satisfaction: Due to the performance, accuracy, quick information, Code – barcode help to satisfy customers on time, goods quantity, kind, quality of goods and services, fast and accurate charging; guidance for selection of goods and services under requirement.

In addition, Code - barcode technology is an effective competitive weapon in business, improving economic benefits and commercial prestige of enterprises because

+ Due to the preeminent features above, Code – barcode EAN is accepted in all stage in international “distribution sequence” and in each member country.

+ In service of electronic information exchange, Code – barcode is international language to draft messages on order form, transport, payment, reseach of market, partners, complaint…This is an integral condition and and challenge to partners joining in global electronic commerce.

+ Due to satisfaction of customers’ requirements, Code – barcode can facilitate to expand market share, join in international market and promote export-import business.

In addition, Code – barcode is also effective tool in management of internal operation of enterprises as: following and operating the process of material import; store management, personnel management, business capital management…

How to have code – barcode on products?

In order to have code – barcode on products for export or sale in supermarkets, at first enterprises must register at the Directorate for standards, metrology and quality of Vietnam (Vietnam GS1) to be granted enterprise code GS1. Then, enterprises themselves make item code (I code) for each their product. The procedures for use registration of code – barcode are stipulated in the Decision no 15/2006/QD-BKHCN dated August 23^rd 2006. In order to use and maintain the use of enterprise code GS1, enterprises must pay registration fee and maintainance fee yearly. The two kinds of fee are stipulated in the Circular no 88/2002/TT-BTC dated October 02^nd 2002 by the Ministry of Finance.

National code of members of GS1:

000 - 019: America

020 - 029: (limited distribution)

030 - 039: America

040 - 049: (limited distribution)

050 - 059: Coupons

060 - 139: America

200 - 299: (limited distribution)

300 - 379: France

380: Bulgaria

383: Slovenia

385: Croatia

387: Bosnia - Herzegovina

400 - 440: German

450 - 459 & 490 - 499: Japan

460 - 469: Russia

470: Kyrgyztan

471: Taiwan

474: Estonia

475: Latvia

476: Azerbaijan

477: Latvia

478: Uzbekistan

479: Sri Lanka

480: Philippines

481: Belarus

482: Ukraine

484: Moldova

485: Armenia

486: Georgia

487: Kazakhstan

489: Hong Kong

500 - 509: England

520: International GS1 (for Greece)

528: Lebanon

529: Cyprus

530: Albania

531: Macedonia

535: Malta

539: Ireland

540 - 549: Belgium & Luxembourg

560: Portugal

569: Iceland

570 - 579: Denmark

590: Poland

594: Rumania

599: Hungary

600 - 601: South Africa

603: Ghana

608: Bahrain

609: Mauritius

611: Morocco

613: Algeria

616: Kenya

618: Ivory Coast

619: Tunisia

621: Syria

622: Egypt

624: Libya

625: Jordan

626: Iran

627: Kuwait

628: Arabia Saudi

629: Arabia

640 - 649: Finland

690 - 695: China

700 - 709: Norway

729: Israel

730 - 739: Sweden

740: Guatemala

741: El Salvador

742: Honduras

743: Nicaragua

744: Costa Rica

745: Panama

746: Republic of Dominic

750: Mexico

754 - 755: Canada

759: Venezuela

760 - 769: Switzerland

770: Colombia

773: Uruguay

775: Peru

777: Bolivia

779: Argentina

780: Chile

784: Paraguay

786: Ecuador

789 - 790: Brasil

800 - 839: Italy

840 - 849: Spain

850: Cuba

858: Slovakia

859: Czech

860: Serbia and Montenegro

865: Mongolia

867: North Korea

868 - 869: Turkey

870 - 879: Netherlands

880: Korea

884: Cambodia

885: Thailand

888: Singapore

890: India

893: Vietnam

899 Indonesia

900 - 919: Austria

930 - 939: Australia

940 - 949: New Zealand

950: International GS1

955: Malaysia

958: Macau

977: Serial publications (ISSN)

978 - 979: Bookland (ISBN)

980: Refund receips

981 - 982: Common Currency Coupons

990 - 999: Coupons

Documents related to Code – barcode:

NATIONAL STANDARD OF VIETNAM

1. TCVN 6380:2007 Information and documentation. International standard book number (ISBN).

2. TCVN 6381: 2007 Information and documentation. International standard serial number (ISSN).

3. TCVN 6384:1998 Article code – barcode. UPC-A code. Technical requirement.

4. TCVN 6512:2007 Article code – barcode. Commercial unit code. Technical requirement.

5. TCVN 6513:1999 Article code – barcode. ITF barcode. Technical requirement.

6. TCVN 6754:2007 Article code – barcode. GS1 application assignment number.

7. TCVN 6755:2000 Article code – barcode. EAN.UCC-128 barcode. Technical regulation.

8. TCVN 6756:2000 Article code – barcode. EAN code – barcode for book and serial. Technical requirement.

9. TCVN 6939:2007 Article code. Thirteen-number global commodity code. Technical requirement.

10. TCVN 6940:2007 Article code. Eight-number global commodity code. Technical requirement.

11. TCVN 7199:2007 automatic data assignment and collection. GS1 global location code. Technical requirement.

12. TCVN 7200:2007 Article code – barcode. Serial shipping container code (SSCC). Technical requirement.

13. TCVN 7201:2007 Automatic data assignment and collection. GS1 logistics unit label. Technical requirement.

14. TCVN 7202:2002 Automatic data assignment and collection. 3.9 code. Technical requirement.

15. TCVN 7203:2002 Article code – barcode. Requirment on verification and confirmation of barcode quality.

16. TCVN 7322:2003 Information technology. Automaitc data assignment and collection technology. Barcode technology. QR code.

17. TCVN 7454:2004 Automatic data assignment and collection. List of data name describing commodities that use EAN.UCC code.

18. TCVN 7626:2007 Information technology. Automatic data assignment and collection technology. Technical requirement for verification of quality of barcode print. One-sided barcode.

19. TCVN 7639:2007 Global returnable asset identifier (GRAI) and Global individual asset identifier (GIAI). Technical requirement.

20. TCVN 7825:2007 Information technology. Automatic data assignment and collection technology. Barcode technical requirement. EAN/UPC

INTERNATION AL STANDARD

1. ISO 12656:2001 Micrographics — Use of bar codes on aperture cards

2. ISO 15394:2000 Packaging — Bar code and two-dimensional symbols for shipping, transport and receiving labels

3. ISO 22742:2005  Packaging — Linear bar code and two-dimensional symbols for product packaging

4. ISO/IEC 15415:2004 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code print quality test specification — Two-dimensional symbols

5. ISO/IEC 15416:2000 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code print quality test specification — Linear symbols

6. /IEC 15417:2007 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Code 128 bar code symbology specification

7. /IEC 15419:2001 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code digital imaging and printing performance testing

8. ISO/IEC 15420:2000 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code symbology specification — EAN/UPC

9. /IEC 15421:2000 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code master test specifications

10. ISO/IEC 15423:2004 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code scanner and decoder performance testing

11. ISO/IEC 15426-1:2006 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code verifier conformance specification — Part 1: Linear symbols

12. ISO/IEC 15426-2:2005 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code verifier conformance specification — Part 2: Two-dimensional symbols

13. ISO/IEC 15438:2006 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — PDF417 bar code symbology specification

14. ISO/IEC 16022:2006 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Data Matrix bar code symbology specification

15. ISO/IEC 16388:2007 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Code 39 bar code symbology specification

16. ISO/IEC 16390:2007 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Interleaved 2 of 5 bar code symbology specification

17. ISO/IEC 18004:2006 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — QR Code 2005 bar code symbology specification

18. ISO/IEC 24723:2006 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — EAN.UCC Composite bar code symbology specification

19. ISO/IEC 24724:2006 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) bar code symbology specification

20. ISO/IEC 24728:2006 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — MicroPDF417 bar code symbology specification

21. ISO/IEC 24778:2008 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Aztec Code bar code symbology specification

22. ISO/IEC TR 19782:2006 Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Effects of gloss and low substrate opacity on reading of bar code symbols

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

1. 2373/2000/QĐ-BKHCNMT: Decision of the the Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology on management of code – barcode;

2. 45/2002/QĐ-TTg: Decision of the Prime Minister on regulation on content of state management on code – barcode and state administrative agency on code – barcode;

3. 88/2002/TT-BTC: Circular of the Ministry of Finance on collection, payment, management and use of fee of granting code – barcode;

4. 15/2006/QĐ-BKHCN: Decision of the Minister of the Ministry of Sciene and Technology on promulgating “Regulation on grant, use and management of code – barcode”;

5. 36/2007/TT-BTC: Circular of the Ministry of Finance on amendment, supplementation of the Circular no 88/2002/TT-BTC dated October 02^nd 2002 of the Ministry of Finance stipulating regime of collection, payment, management and use of fee of granting code – barcode.