50 years of transforming tomorrow

On 26 June 1974, the very first scan of a barcode at Marsh Supermarket in Ohio, USA, transformed grocery checkout.

GS1 50th Anniversary

50 years ago, the GS1 barcode was scanned for the first time, and since then each “beep” makes it easier and safer to buy and sell products.

Industry leaders came together to transform the way we shop and created the barcode. From that point forward, a simple scan at checkout connected a physical product to its digital identity—and information that could be shared throughout the supply chain and with consumers. For five decades, every beep of a barcode—with GS1 standards behind it—has powered trust for everyone everywhere.

As one of the member organisations of GS1, GS1 HK has been established in Hong Kong for 35 years. View our 35 years of development

Benefits of GS1 Barcodes

50 Years after the barcode was first scanned, 22 leaders from the world’s biggest companies sign a global joint statement calling for the transition to QR Codes with GS1 standards

Read the industry Global Joint Statement

Signatories include industry champions like Alibaba.com, AS Watson Group, Carrefour, IGA, JD.com, JM Smucker, Mondelēz, Lidl, L’Oréal, Nestlé, P&G, and Savencia. They are calling for the global adoption of QR Codes with GS1 standards. Powered by GS1, these QR Codes can give access to a wealth of product information easily accessible via smartphones – which is expected to completely revolutionise the consumer experience.

Digital transformation will unlock limitless possibilities for businesses, people and the planet.

Our future has never looked brighter. QR Codes powered by GS1 are transforming the simple scan, opening a gateway of in-depth product information. From an in-store scanner or mobile phone, QR Codes powered by GS1 will create new opportunities to improve business operations, consumer experiences, patient safety and sustainability initiatives.

2D barcodes in retail GS1 Digital Link GS1 HK 1QR

Explore our history

1973-82

1983-92

1993-02

2003-12

2013-24

1973-82

1973

On 3 April 1973, industry leaders in the U.S. retail grocery sector create the barcode—an innovation that has revolutionised our modern economy and society.

1974

The U.S.–based Uniform Code Council (UCC) is appointed as administrator of the new Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode.

On 26 June 1974—in a Marsh supermarket located in Ohio—a pack of Wrigley’s gum becomes the first product in the world to be scanned with a barcode.

1977

The European Article Numbering (EAN) Association is established as an international not-for-profit standards organisation in Brussels, Belgium. The new EAN barcode is fully compatible with the UPC barcode in the U.S.

1983-92

1983

Traditional barcodes are expanded and used beyond checkout counters for wholesale multipacks, cases and cartons.

1989

GS1 publishes its first international standard for electronic data interchange (EDI), creating an efficient, secure and automated way for trading partners to seamlessly exchange information and communicate with one another.

1993-02

1995

GS1 expands into the healthcare sector, deploying standards to increase patient safety, drive supply chain efficiencies and improve the identification and traceability of medical products.

1999

Specifications for the GS1 DataBar are approved. These “reduced space” and stacked barcodes can identify small items like jewellery and fresh foods—and carry more information than traditional barcodes.

2000

At the start of the new millennium, GS1 is present in 90 countries.

2002

GS1’s Global Standards Management Process (GSMP) is launched, providing a neutral setting for industry to discuss common business challenges and establish new standards-based solutions for their businesses.

2003-12

2003

EPCglobal, Inc. is formed to innovate and develop standards for the Electronic Product Code (EPC) and to support the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, ultimately improving inventory accuracy and increasing supply chain visibility.

2004

The GS1 DataMatrix is approved and is the first two-dimensional barcode adopted by GS1.

The GS1 Global Data Synchronisation Network (GS1 GDSN®) is launched. This product data network makes it possible for any company, anywhere, to seamlessly share high-quality product information.

2005

The UCC and EAN merge, creating a single international organisation with 101 local GS1 Member Organisations (Mos).

2006

GS1 launches the first global traceability standard, paving the way for improved supply chain interoperability and transparency.

2010

As e-commerce grows, GS1 enters the business-to-consumer (B2C) world, exploring standards to give consumers direct access to product information through their mobile devices.

2013-24

2013

GS1 receives accreditation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) as an issuing agency for the unique device identifiers (UDIs) used to globally and uniquely identify medical devices.

2014

GS1 builds a new global strategy to respond to the demands of digital omni-channel commerce, including ratification of their first “digital” standard.

2016

The BBC names the GS1 barcode one of “the 50 things that made the world economy”.

2018

GS1 expands into the financial sector as an accredited issuer of Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs), the codes that uniquely identify companies participating in financial transactions.

2019

The GS1 Registry Platform (GRP) is established as a trusted source of GS1 Company Prefixes (GCPs), the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) or barcode numbers and GS1 Global Location Numbers (GLNs). Verified by GS1 makes it possible for users to leverage the platform: brand owners can share basic data about their products and retailers and marketplaces can verify the identity of the products they sell.

2020

The GS1 Digital Link standard leverages QR codes to help connect consumers to rich amounts of brand-authorised data on the web, including product information, promotions, ingredients, recipes and more.

2021

GS1 supports industry with an ambition to read two-dimensional barcodes—QR codes and GS1 DataMatrix barcodes—at retail points of sale around the world by the end of 2027.

2022

A joint World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Economic Forum (WEF) report outlines the power of GS1 product and location identification to make cross-border trade more efficient, inclusive and sustainable.

2023

GS1 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the barcode together with its family of 116 local GS1 MOs. Over 1 billion products now carry GS1 barcodes that are scanned billions of times every day around the world.

2024

GS1 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first barcode scan and embraces the future with the next generation barcodes - QR Codes powered by GS1.

Celebrating GS1's 50 years and beyond with our MOs testimonies

As we look into the next 50 years, we will look back at our GS1 Member Organisations greatest achievements since their founding and learn about the exciting plans they have for the future. Here are their stories.

Watch GS1 MOs testimonies