GS1 barcodes in NZ: the producer's plain-English guide
GS1 barcodes are the entry ticket to NZ retail distribution, and getting them wrong is expensive. This is the plain-English version of what NZ producers need.
What GS1 actually is
GS1 is the global body that issues company prefixes so every product barcode is unique worldwide. NZ suppliers join GS1 NZ, receive a prefix, and generate GTINs for each product line.
Where it goes wrong
Most rejections are print quality, not numbering: low contrast, shrunken quiet zones, over-compressed bars from worn printheads. A distribution centre scanner rejects what your counter scanner reads fine.
How to never fail a scan audit
- Print thermal transfer for anything that must last
- Verify to ISO/IEC 15416 before shipping, an Axicon verifier produces the grade report
- Keep printheads maintained, worn elements kill grades silently
Supplying a GS1-regulated customer? Talk to us about verification.