If you sell your products in major retail outlets in Australia, you will need a GS1 Bar Code on your product packaging. Whether a local manufacturer or an importer whose products land in Australia with bar codes already on your products, you will be required by retailers and/or wholesalers to provide a GS1 Australian or GS1 New Zealand Verification Report stating that the bar code is valid and will scan correctly.
Major retailers are increasingly intolerant of products that cause scanning errors. Bar codes that don't scan properly mean all the time and money invested in scanning and supply chain systems is wasted. They can also prove very expensive in terms of packaging re-design and rejected product.
GS1 Australia is a not-for-profit organisation set up by Australian business and industry to administer the use of bar code numbers in Australia. The organisation offers a cost-effective bar code testing solution to allow you to proactively ensure your bar codes will scan successfully. GS1 Australia’s Bar Code Testing Service reports on the scanning performance of bar codes and whether they conform to the ISO 15416 Print Quality Standard.
GS1 Australia has a dedicated team of more than 15 professional experts in Melbourne and Sydney who have tested more than 1.5 million bar codes over more than 20 years to make sure they meet the global standards.
Businesses can either bring in or send either a sample product or product packaging to GS1 Australia’s testing facilities at their Melbourne or Sydney offices. GS1 Australia then performs a series of very detailed checks to ensure the bar code conforms to the standards and will be able to be scanned in all required scanning environments. The testing process is based on the ISO 15416 verification (testing) method which assesses size, colour, print quality and quiet zones (light margins). We also assess bar height and location/placement of the barcode. The barcode is also checked to ensure the right GS1 number has been applied.
Bar Code Verification Reports are issued as a PDF via email or can be faxed and they remain valid for 12 months from the date of issue, although for frequent changes in packaging, more regular testing may be required.
If a bar code doesn’t scan the testing team can give advice on how to correct it to ensure that it does.
GS1 Australia members receive 5 free bar code test reports each financial year (July to June), with additional reports charged at $26 per item (+ GST). GS1 Australia Single Number Members receive one free bar code test report per financial year, with additional reports charged at $26 per item (+ GST) and non members are charged a flat fee of $85 per Barcode Test report (+ GST).
For more information on bar code testing visit http://www.gs1au.org/services/barcode_testing/ Back to Home page
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