Leveraging a standardized approach

Cannabis and Cannabis Accessory Barcode Standards

All cannabis suppliers are required to go through  GS1 Canada  to secure their barcode symbology and must use the following standardized format for master case packs, inner case packs and retail product packs:

  • Each of these formats must have a unique barcode; and
  • Each size variant of each product must have a unique barcode, meaning that a strain of cannabis that is available in four sizes (i.e. 1 g, 3.5 g, 7 g, 14 g) must have four unique product barcodes.

OCS has provided accessories suppliers with the option to either:

  1. Go through GS1  and use the below standardized formats; or
  2. Keep their existing barcodes as long as they are legitimate, functional and non-conflicting with any other sellable item(s) globally. If the barcode is conflicting or illegitimate, the product will not be listed.
Consumer Items:

The GS1 Expanded DataBar and Expanded Stacked DataBar symbologies. The Expanded DataBars will contain (in this order): GTIN (AI- 01), Packaged on Date (AI- 13) OR 500723 if no packaged on date, LOT (AI- 10).

Data Bar Expanded Stacked
Data Bar
Expanded
GTIN- Provided by GS1
Packaged on Date OR 500723 if your product does not have one
LOT
Cases or Other Logistic Packaging:

GS1-128 (GTIN, Packaged on Date OR Default, and the LOT in this order), Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC OR EAN.

Option 1: Accessories Registered with GS1

Consumer Items:

Any GS1 Databar, UPC-A/E, EAN-13 & EAN-8 

OR Option 2: Accessory Suppliers Using Existing Barcodes

Consumer Items:

UPC A, UPC E, EAN13, EAN8, or GS1 Databar (GTIN ONLY)  

Option 1: Accessories Registered with GS1

Cases or Other Logistic Packaging:

GS1-128 (WITHOUT THE 01) or Interleaved 2 of 5), Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC OR EAN. 

OR Option 2: Accessory Suppliers Using Existing Barcodes

Cases or Other Logistic Packaging:

Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC A, UPC E, EAN13, EAN8, OR GS1-128 (GTIN ONLY, WITHOUT THE 01) 

Cannabis Barcodes

Consumer Items:

The GS1 Expanded DataBar and Expanded Stacked DataBar symbologies. The Expanded DataBars will contain (in this order): GTIN (AI- 01), Expiry Date (AI- 17) OR 500723 if no expiry date, LOT (AI- 10).  

Cases or Other Logistic Packaging:

GS1-128 (GTIN, Expiry OR Default, and the LOT in this order), Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC OR EAN.

Data Bar Expanded Stacked
DataBar Expanded Stacked
Data Bar
Expanded
DataBar Expanded
GTIN- Provided by GS1
Expiry Date of Product OR 500723 if your product does not have one
LOT

Accessory Barcodes

Option 1: Accessories Registered with GS1

Consumer Items:

Any GS1 Databar, UPC-A/E, EAN-13 & EAN-8 

Cases or Other Logistic Packaging:

GS1-128 (likely only the GTIN) or Interleaved 2 of 5), Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC OR EAN. 

OR Option 2: Accessory Suppliers Using Existing Barcodes

Consumer Items:

UPC A, UPC E, EAN13, EAN8, or GS1 Databar (GTIN ONLY)  

Cases or Other Logistic Packaging:

Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC A, UPC E, EAN13, EAN8, OR GS1-128 (GTIN ONLY) 

GENERAL TERMS

All suppliers must perform a separate quality assurance check on all master and inner packaging along with the product packaging prior to sending out the products. Suppliers should check for the following:

– ALL  barcodes (retail, inner and case) must scan at first pass.
– Each level of packaging requires a unique GTIN
– For Cannabis Products, the Lot Number (AI 10) and Packaged on Date (AI- 13) of the inner pack and master pack must match the lot and expiry date of the product pack.
-Accessories Products must not contain AIs.
– Multi-pack products  must have a unique barcode on the outside package that is different than the barcode of the individual units contain within.
– Multi-pack barcodes need to be on the individual unit(s) inside the multi-pack must be positioned in such a way that they cannot be scanned.
– The human readable barcode must match the scanning barcode
– The human readable barcode must be located beneath or beside the barcode
– The scanning barcode must scan with the correct check digit

If the OCS receives any shipment with non-compliant barcodes the shipment will be sent back to the supplier or the supplier will cover all re-work costs to re-labeling. It should also be noted that all re-work associated with barcodes will delay the product from being available for purchase on the eCommerce website.