Definition GS1 - Healthcare Barcoding Organization

GS1 is an international non-profit organization. Until 2004 it was known as European Article Numbering-Uniform Code Council.

It has headquarters in Brussels (Belgium) and Princeton, New Jersey (US).

GS1 standard barcoding is increasingly used in health systems around the world. It was mandated in the 2014 NHS e-Procurement Strategy and is being pioneered in 2016 in six demonstrator sites: Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. A GS1 UK healthcare advisory board has been established. Not only equipment and supplies but also staff and patients are barcoded.

The South Australia Department of Health decided to implement a GS1 procurement in 2007 linked to a tender for a master data management solution, which was implemented in 2016.

Source: GS1

More information: GS1

GS1 is also one of the three code issuing agencies currently accredited by the FDA for implementation of the UDI (Unique Device Identification) rule.

GS1 has branches all over the world. GS1 US seems to be leading the way with everything UDI, however, manufacturers not based in the US can't directly register with GS1 US (they need to register with their local/regional branch if they choose to work with GS1).

From US FDA :

UDI Issuing Agencies

Ronen E said:

GS1 is also one of the three code issuing agencies currently accredited by the FDA for implementation of the UDI (Unique Device Identification) rule.

GS1 has branches all over the world. GS1 US seems to be leading the way with everything UDI, however, manufacturers not based in the US can't directly register with GS1 US (they need to register with their local/regional branch if they choose to work with GS1).

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Hi Ronan,

Can you throw some light from a supplier point of view? Since GS1 is a non profit organization they do not provide us enough information to access risk and have them added to our vendor list. We decided to create a memo and have them as exception in our system. In such cases what are other organizations doing? Can you suggest/advise what should be added in the memo to access risk specifically in terms of GS1.