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PTI Milestones

Milestone #1 - Obtain a Company Prefix (Deadline Past)

A Company Prefix uniquely identifies your company and its products around the world. You purchase a Company Prefix from GS1 (www.gs1us.org).  There may be some confusion between UPC Company Prefixes and GS1 (GTIN) Company Prefixes.  Essentially they are both the same with the UPC Company Prefix being shorter than the GS1 Company prefixes by one digit, (a zero). The added zero assures backward compatibility. When in doubt, call GS1.  The Company Prefix you purchase can be between six and 12 digits. The shorter the Company Prefix is, the more GTINs configurations you can create. While the shorter Company Prefix may be more expensive, it will provide your brand more flexibility for current and future GTIN assignments.

 

Milestone #2 – Assign Case Level GTINs (Deadline Past)

After receiving a Company Prefix from GS1, GTIN assignments must now be established identifying each of your product/case configurations uniquely following the guidelines set forth in the PTI.

Most handlers of fresh produce are somehow impacted by Milestone #2.  Specifically:  

  • Growers who wish to maintain their own brand. Their GTIN will be shown on the case of produce. If that particular case is not repacked or reconfigured, it will maintain that GTIN throughout the entire supply chain.
  • Packers that change the composition of the original case of product and re-brand it. Note that the packer will be responsible for tracking the GTIN and Lot # of each original input (e.g., case/product) and linking it to the newly-created GTIN and Lot/Batch #.
  • Shippers maintaining their own brand must give the GTIN number to their growers if their growers are packing the product for them.
  • Buyers requiring private labeled product. The private label owners need to give the packer the appropriate GTIN. The Lot/Batch # will be created by the packer.

PTI Milestone #3 - Send GTIN Lists to Buyers (Deadline Past)

Every seller needs to communicate the GTINs they will be shipping to their buyers. This will enable your buyers to store these numbers in their systems. Once this number is stored, it will be recognized when the buyer scans the barcode on the case containing the GTIN.

There are a number of methods of providing your list of GTINs to buyers of your products.  The PTI requirements can be met by transmitting a spreadsheet to your customers.  A sample has been published by the PTI team.

PTI Milestone #4 - Human Readable Labeling (2011)

The Produce Traceability Initiative requires both human readable and barcode identifiers to appear on each case packed beginning in Q3, 2011.  At this time, you should be prepared to create and affix both human readable identifiers and GTIN encoded barcode information on the same label. (See Milestone #5 for a barcode label details)  According to the PTI, at minimum, the GTIN number from the brand owner and the lot or batch number from the company packing the case must be shown in human readable form underneath the barcode.

PTI Milestone #5 - Case Level Encoded Barcodes (2011)

Concurrent with the completion of Milestone #4, those packing the product should be prepared to encode the GTIN and lot number and print a GS1-128 barcode, which can be accurately scanned and recorded by buyers and receivers. Refer to Best Practices for Case Labeling for additional information. The human readable information should be shown directly below or above the barcode.

PTI Milestone #6 - Read & Store Information on Inbound Cases (2011)

All buyers, receivers and subsequent handlers of cases must have systems in place to read barcodes and electronically store the GTIN and lot number from each case of produce received. Upon completion of this milestone, each handler of produce will able to provide readily accessible information on all produce received into one’s inventory throughout the supply chain, allowing companies to quickly track product within their own control by GTINs and lot numbers.

PTI Milestone #7 - Read & Store Information on Outbound Cases (2012)

All buyers, receivers and subsequent handlers of cases should have systems in place to read and store the GTIN and lot number for all outbound cases of produce. This final step provides complete information on when the product left your facility and/or is discarded, thus completing electronic connectivity of case data across the total supply chain. As such, it is mandatory that companies read this information off of the case and store this information in their systems.