Sunrise 2027
GS1 Sunrise 2027: what changes for barcodes at checkout
A voluntary 2027 target for 2D codes at checkout. The linear barcode stays on the pack.
Sunrise 2027 is a voluntary industry target: by the end of 2027, a retail point-of-sale scanner should be able to read a GTIN from a 2D code. It is not a law, and it does not switch the linear barcode off. A pack keeps its EAN-13 or UPC-A and adds a QR code that carries the same GTIN inside a GS1 Digital Link. 2026 is the year to test that pair on your best-selling products, before a retailer asks.
What should a brand do now?
- Check every GTIN and its check digit. A wrong digit must never be printed into a link. The Digital Link page checks it for you.
- Choose the domain for your links. https://id.gs1.org is the default. Your own domain must use https and answer for those GTINs.
- Dual-code your top products: the existing EAN-13 or UPC-A, plus the QR code, with the centre of the QR code within 50 mm of the linear barcode.
- Test at a till and with a phone. The till should read the same GTIN as the linear barcode, and the phone should open the link.
- Keep the linear barcode until your retailer says otherwise, in its own written notice.
The dual-coding guide covers sizes and placement. For a whole catalog, the GTIN column guide builds the QR codes in Excel or Google Sheets.
What are the two 2D codes?
| QR code with a GS1 Digital Link | GS1 DataMatrix | |
|---|---|---|
| Holds | A web address with the GTIN, such as https://id.gs1.org/01/09506000134352 | A GS1 element string, such as (01)09506000134352(17)271231 |
| A phone | Opens the address | Does not open a page |
| Used for | Retail packs | Healthcare and some fresh food |
| On this site | The Digital Link page, or auto with a link | Write gs1datamatrix with the element string |
A plain Data Matrix of a web address is neither of these. The QR or GS1 DataMatrix guide explains when to use which.
What does a Digital Link look like?
The path starts with /01/ and the GTIN padded to 14 digits. Optional parts follow in a fixed order: /22/ for a consumer product variant, /10/ for a lot or batch, and /21/ for a serial number. A best-before date is query key 15 and an expiry date is query key 17. For example, https://id.gs1.org/01/09506000134352/10/ABC123?17=271231 is lot ABC123, expiring 31 December 2027.
The Digital Link page builds this address from your GTIN and checks the check digit first. A wrong digit is refused with: The check digit is invalid for this GTIN.
Are linear barcodes switched off?
No. The transition is dual coding: both symbols on the pack. Place the centre of the QR code within 50 mm of the centre of the linear barcode, so the item is not scanned twice as two products. Print the human-readable GTIN once, under the linear barcode. Keep both symbols dark on light, preferably black on white; gradients and metallic ink make scanning unreliable.
| Symbol | Size |
|---|---|
| QR code | Module (X-dimension) of at least 0.396 mm, target 0.495 mm, at most 0.990 mm, with a quiet zone of 4 modules on every side |
| EAN-13 and UPC-A | 37.29 × 25.93 mm at 100%, from 80% to 200% |
| EAN-8 | 26.73 × 21.31 mm at 100% |
The Digital Link page and the README in its ZIP give the exact millimetres for the code you built.
Which retailers have published a roadmap?
Check your retailer's supplier portal: that is the document that counts for your packs. News articles, conference talks, and lists in vendor blogs are background, not requirements. GS1 Nederland described the 2027 scanner goal in a 2022 news article. When your portal says nothing, keep the linear barcode, add the QR code on your top products, and ask the retailer in writing before you drop the bars.
Where can I try it without an account?
On the Digital Link page, anyone can enter a GTIN and read the link it builds. Downloads need a free account. The sample QR code and the matching ITF-14 for GTIN 09506000134352 are open to everyone.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sunrise 2027 mandatory?
No. It is a voluntary industry target, not a law. A retailer can still set its own packing rule, so read your retailer's supplier portal before you treat a date as a requirement.
Will EAN-13 stop working?
No. Linear barcodes are not switched off. During the transition, print the existing EAN-13 or UPC-A and the QR code together.
Do I need a new GTIN?
No. The QR code carries the GTIN you already have, padded to 14 digits in the link. The check digit stays the same.
Can I use any QR code?
No. Retail checkout uses a QR code of a GS1 Digital Link, an address that carries the GTIN. A QR code of an ordinary product page is not that.
What is a resolver?
The domain at the start of the link. https://id.gs1.org works for every GTIN. A brand can use its own https domain once that domain answers for its GTINs.
Does my retailer require it?
Check that retailer's supplier portal or ask your account manager in writing. Industry news and trade-press lists are background, not a requirement.
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