---
title: GS1 Application Identifiers & ASC MH10 Data Identifiers
description: "GS1 Application Identifiers vs ASC MH10 Data Identifiers: which to use for GTIN, Product Model and Packaging System, with key codes and standards."
---

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# GS1 Application Identifiers & ASC MH10 Data Identifiers

## A Sales Unit is a Product plus its Packaging. This article explains how each part is identified: GS1 Application Identifiers for the GTIN, and ASC MH10 Data Identifiers for VTA Product and Packaging identifiers. It includes the key codes, the standards behind them and where to get them.

### Purpose and scope

A Sales Unit is a Product plus its Packaging, and each part is identified by the scheme that owns it. The Sales Unit carries a GTIN in GS1 Application Identifier (AI) syntax. The Product (VTA-PM, plus VTA-SN or VTA-BA below model level) and the Packaging (VTA-PS) carry VTA identifiers in ASC MH10 Data Identifier (DI) syntax. Both are "data qualifiers" recognised by ISO/IEC 15418, so this knowledge base starts with GS1 and then covers the DIs.

![](https://support.syncforce.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-19-2026-07-21-11-2646-AM.png?width=670&height=186&name=image-png-Oct-19-2026-07-21-11-2646-AM.png)

GS1 is the standard for trade. The GTIN is the trade item identifier across retail, e-commerce and logistics, and it remains the main key for every Sales Unit. Data Identifiers do not replace it: they add identifiers for what a GTIN was not designed to carry, the product model and the packaging system behind it. Both relations are one-to-many: one Product Model and one Packaging System are each shared by many GTINs.

The rule we apply: use the scheme that already owns the entity; mint a VTA identifier only where neither does. In prodi.link only the `/01/{GTIN}` routes may be called GS1 Digital Link-conformant; DI routes are ISO/IEC 15459-based and must never be presented as GS1.

#### GS1 Application Identifiers (AI)

An Application Identifier is a 2–4 digit numeric prefix (e.g. `01`, `414`, `8013`) defined by GS1. AIs carry GS1 keys (GTIN, GLN, SSCC, GMN) and their qualifiers and attributes, in barcodes, GS1 DataMatrix, QR codes and EPC/RFID. In GS1 Digital Link they become URL path segments: `https://prodi.link/01/{GTIN}/10/{batch}`.

**How a GS1 key is built.** A GS1 key starts with a GS1 Company Prefix licensed from GS1 through the GS1 Member Organisation of the company's country. Unlike DIs, lot (`10`) and serial (`21`) are qualifiers that only mean something together with a GTIN.

**Business context.**

- GS1 is the default in retail and consumer goods: almost every sales unit SyncForce customers manage already has a GTIN, and retailers, GDSN and EPR schemes key on it.
- For the EU Digital Product Passport, the GTIN is a valid product identifier under EN 18219:2026. Its ID scheme 1 (clause 5.2) accepts ISO/IEC 15459-based identifiers using either GS1 AIs (via GS1 Digital Link) or ASC MH10 DIs (via ISO/IEC 18975), on equal terms.
- The GTIN stays the anchor for trade data such as EPR fee reporting, which is per GTIN (`/01/`); composition data hangs off the Packaging System (31B) that the GTIN payload references.
- Sunrise 2027 (2D barcodes at retail POS) drives brand owners to put GS1 Digital Link QR codes on pack, the same QR that can point to prodi.link.

**Governing standards**

| Standard | What it does | Where to get it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GS1 General Specifications, Release 26.0 (Jan 2026) | The normative definition of every AI, key and barcode rule (chapter 3 = AIs) | [GS1 reference directory](https://ref.gs1.org/standards/genspecs/) (free) |
| GS1 Application Identifier list | Searchable list of all AIs with format and Digital Link role | [ref.gs1.org/ai](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/) · [JSON-LD dataset](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/GS1_Application_Identifiers.jsonld) |
| GS1 Digital Link Standard (URI syntax) | How AIs become web URIs and how resolvers behave | [ref.gs1.org/standards/digital-link](https://ref.gs1.org/standards/digital-link/) (free) |
| ISO/IEC 15418:2016 | Makes the AI list an ISO standard, alongside DIs | [ISO store, CHF 44](https://www.iso.org/standard/67405.html) |

#### Key GS1 Application Identifiers

The table lists ten commonly used AIs, with formats and Digital Link roles from the GS1 AI dataset (ref.gs1.org). Where an ASC MH10 Data Identifier is used for a related concept, it is shown under "Related DI".

| AI | Name | Format | Digital Link role | Related DI | Why it matters |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [01](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/01) | GTIN \| Global Trade Item Number | N2+N14 | Primary key; qualifiers 22, 10, 21 (in that order) | SU uses AI 01 directly | Sales Unit identity; EPR fee reporting per GTIN |
| [22](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/22) | CPV \| Consumer Product Variant | N2+X..20 | Key qualifier of 01 | none (attribute on PM/SU) | Variant of one GTIN (e.g. different packaging or recipe) without a new GTIN |
| [10](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/10) | Batch / lot number | N2+X..20 | Key qualifier of 01 | 25T (self-contained) | Batch-level DPP, recalls |
| [21](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/21) | Serial number | N2+X..20 | Key qualifier of 01 | 25S (self-contained) | Item-level passport |
| [17](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/17) | Use-by / expiry date | N2+N6 (YYMMDD) | Data attribute (query string) | none | Food and pharma; common in Sunrise 2027 2D codes |
| [243](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/243) | PCN \| Packaging Component Number | N3+X..20 | Data attribute, GTIN-scoped | 31B (PS) | Closest GS1 concept to a Packaging System, but not a key |
| [8013](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/8013) | GMN \| Global Model Number | N4+X..25 | Primary key | 25P (PM) | GS1 counterpart of the Product Model; needs a GS1 Company Prefix |
| [414](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/414) | GLN of a physical location | N3+N13 | Primary key; qualifier 254 (GLN extension) | 26L (FA) | Facility / plant / warehouse; EN 18219 also covers facility ids |
| [417](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/417) | Party GLN | N3+N13 | Primary key | 18V (EO) | Economic operator / legal entity |
| [00](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/00) | SSCC \| Serial Shipping Container Code | N2+N18 | Primary key | none | Logistic unit (pallet, shipment) on transport labels |

Format notation: N = digits, X = alphanumeric; "N2+N14" = 2-digit AI + 14-digit value; "..20" = up to 20 characters.

### Data Identifiers (DI)

A Data Identifier is a 1–4 character prefix (one letter, optionally preceded by up to three digits, e.g. `25P`) that states the meaning of the data that follows. DIs are maintained by the ASC MH10 Subcommittee 8 and published in ANSI MH10.8.2; ISO/IEC 15418 makes them an international standard alongside GS1 AIs.

**How a VTA identifier is built.** The DIs we use for keys are "license-plate" DIs: the value is Issuing Agency Code (IAC) + Company Identification Number (CIN) + a number unique within that CIN. For VTA that is `VTA` (IAC held by Global Textile Scheme GmbH) + the CIN of the issuer + the entity number. Unlike GS1, each such value is globally unique on its own, so `25T` (batch) needs no `25P` in front of it.

**Business context.**

- DIs are the native syntax of industrial and B2B supply chains: automotive (Odette/VDA, AIAG), aerospace and defence (ATA Spec 2000, MIL-STD-129/130), electronics and logistics labelling.
- They let any organisation that holds an IAC (or a CIN under one) issue identifiers without a GS1 Company Prefix. This is how identifiers for Product Models, Packaging Systems and Materials can be issued alongside GTINs.
- GS1 is itself an ISO/IEC 15459 issuing agency (IACs 0–9), so GTINs and VTA identifiers sit in the same global namespace without collision.
- EN 18219:2026 (Digital product passport: Unique identifiers) admits DI-based identifiers next to GS1 keys. For products, ID scheme 1 (clause 5.2) requires a registered ISO/IEC 15459 Issuing Agency Code plus a GS1 AI or ASC MH10 DI per ISO/IEC 15418; the query-string variant (5.2.2.2) is DI-only. For economic operators and facilities, ID scheme 7 (clause 6.3) accepts both AIs and DIs. EN 18220:2026 requires DPP data carriers to be able to encode ISO/IEC 15459 identifiers and gives examples for both syntaxes.

**Governing standards**

| Standard | What it does | Where to get it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ANSI MH10.8.2-2021 (updated 2024-06-14) | The full dictionary of Data Identifiers, incl. 25P, 31B, 26L, 12E and the DI–AI mapping | [ANSI Webstore, USD 29 (PDF)](https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/mhia/ansimh102021) |
| ISO/IEC 15418:2016 | Recognises GS1 AIs and ASC MH10 DIs and names their maintenance bodies (5 pages) | [ISO store, CHF 44](https://www.iso.org/standard/67405.html) |
| ISO/IEC 15459 (parts 1–6) | Rules for globally unique identifiers via Issuing Agencies; part 2 covers registration | [AIM Registration Authority](https://www.aimglobal.org/registration-authority-iso-iec-15459/) copies via the [ANSI Webstore](https://webstore.ansi.org/) |
| Register of Issuing Agency Codes (ISO/IEC 15459-2) | Lists every IAC; `VTA` = Global Textile Scheme GmbH | [AIM register (19 Feb 2026, PDF)](https://www.aimglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Register-IAC-15459-2-20260219.pdf) · [online register](https://item-id.org/) |
| ISO/IEC DIS 25910 (in DIS ballot since 4 Sep 2026) | Plain-text syntax for Data Identifiers, likely relevant to how prodi.link writes DIs in URLs | [ISO project page](https://www.iso.org/standard/91894.html) |
| EN 18219:2026 | DPP unique identifiers for products, operators and facilities (model, batch, item); admits both GS1 AIs and ASC MH10 DIs under ISO/IEC 15459 | [EVS store, EUR 32.24](https://www.evs.ee/en/evs-en-18219-2026) |

#### Data Identifiers used in VTA

GS1 Application Identifiers and ASC MH10 Data Identifiers are used next to each other, each for its own use case. GS1 identifies the trade item (GTIN) and its logistics; Data Identifiers identify the product model, batch, serialised item and packaging system behind it. The table lists the Data Identifier for each VTA entity class, with its definition in ANSI MH10.8.2-2021 (updated 2024-06-14).

| Entity class | DI | MH10.8.2 definition (short) | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| PM \| Product Model | 25P | IAC + CIN + supplier-assigned part number, unique within the CIN holder's domain | Default DPP anchor for ESPR and the portable-battery QR (EUBR Art. 13). The norm's opening line says "Identification of a Party", a copy-paste defect, worth flagging to MH10. |
| SN \| Serialized Item | 25S | IAC + CIN + supplier-assigned serial number | Item level, e.g. the EUBR Art. 77 battery passport. |
| BA \| Batch | 25T | IAC + CIN + supplier-assigned traceability number | Batch level; needed where carbon footprint or recalls are per batch. |
| PS \| Packaging System | 31B | Global Unique Packaging Number: IAC + CIN + packaging item (material) number; format an3+an6…35 | The norm describes a "packaging item", i.e. one component type. VTA uses it for a system of components; state that interpretation in the scheme rules. |
| MP \| Material Platform | (requested) | No DI exists for a material family or grade | Shares 25P with PM; the entity-class code inside the value keeps them apart. Escape route is 51P if the revision must become part of the key. |

*The Sales Unit is deliberately not a DI: it uses GS1 AI 01 (GTIN), see the GS1 sections above. The DIs 3P/4P/8P/17P that once carried GS1 formats are marked "GS1 recommends this DI no longer be used" since 2020.*

### DI vs AI at a glance

| Aspect | Application Identifier (GS1) | Data Identifier (ASC MH10) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Used in VTA for | Sales Unit (GTIN) | Product (PM, SN, BA) and Packaging (PS) |
| Prefix | Numeric, 2–4 digits (`01`) | Alphanumeric, 1–4 characters (`25P`) |
| Maintained by | GS1, via the General Specifications | ASC MH10/SC 8, via ANSI MH10.8.2 |
| Who can issue | Licensees of a GS1 Company Prefix | Any holder of an ISO/IEC 15459 IAC or a CIN under one (e.g. VTA) |
| Key structure | Compound (GTIN + lot/serial qualifiers) | Self-contained (IAC + CIN + number) |
| URL form | GS1 Digital Link path `/01/…/10/…` | EDCi AutoID query `?.25P=…`; prodi.link also accepts `/25P/…` |
| Typical sectors | Retail, FMCG, healthcare, foodservice | Automotive, aerospace, defence, electronics, logistics |
| Cost of the norm | General Specifications free | ANSI MH10.8.2 USD 29 |

#### Sources

- [GS1 General Specifications](https://ref.gs1.org/standards/genspecs/)
- [GS1 Application Identifiers dataset (JSON-LD)](https://ref.gs1.org/ai/GS1_Application_Identifiers.jsonld)
- [GS1 Digital Link Standard](https://ref.gs1.org/standards/digital-link/)
- [ANSI MH10.8.2-2021, ANSI Webstore](https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/mhia/ansimh102021)
- [ISO/IEC 15418:2016, ISO](https://www.iso.org/standard/67405.html)
- [ISO/IEC DIS 25910, ISO](https://www.iso.org/standard/91894.html)
- [AIM Registration Authority for ISO/IEC 15459](https://www.aimglobal.org/registration-authority-iso-iec-15459/)
- [Register of Issuing Agency Codes, 19 Feb 2026 (PDF)](https://www.aimglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Register-IAC-15459-2-20260219.pdf)
- [EVS-EN 18219:2026, EVS](https://www.evs.ee/en/evs-en-18219-2026)

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