Common questions about GS1 Digital Link

Updated August 2026

Is any of this legally required?

Sunrise 2027 is an industry target and does not cause UPC barcodes to stop working. Separate EU Digital Product Passport rules and the FDA's FSMA 204 rule create legal obligations for specific categories. Neither rule mandates GS1 Digital Link specifically.

Do I need to reprint everything?

Sunrise 2027 does not itself invalidate existing UPC or EAN symbols. Confirm retailer and market requirements before deciding whether to change existing inventory or wait for a scheduled artwork revision.

Will an ordinary phone scan it?

A GS1 Digital Link is an ordinary HTTPS URL that a phone camera can open. Its GS1 syntax also lets a compatible point-of-sale system extract the GTIN from the same symbol.

Can I keep my existing marketing QR code?

You can, but multiple symbols need deliberate placement and scanner testing. Ask the retailer, printer, and packaging team whether one GS1 Digital Link QR Code can carry the GTIN and route consumers to the approved destination for the specific use case.

What if my resolver goes down?

The scan fails until it is back. This is why resolver availability and monitoring matter more here than for a normal website, and why the domain should be one you can repoint. Ask any vendor what their uptime commitment is and what happens to printed codes if you stop paying.

Do I need a new GS1 company prefix?

GS1 Digital Link can use existing valid GTINs, so the syntax change does not itself require a new company prefix. The brand remains responsible for its GS1 licensing and identifier-allocation rules.

How small can the code be?

For the GS1 retail POS application profile, the published X-dimension range is 0.396–0.990mm with a 0.495mm target. Multiply the matrix module count by the chosen X-dimension, then add a four-module quiet zone on every side. The URL, encoding mode, and error-correction level determine the module count, so there is no single correct width for every code.

What is the actual minimum to be "ready"?

There is no universal readiness checklist for every retailer. For a Digital Link pilot, start with valid, correctly allocated GTINs; an approved destination; a correctly sized symbol and quiet zone; a verified printed sample; and a successful test with each receiving trading partner.

Read the GS1 retail implementation guideline.