What is an Electronic Product Code?

A family of identity schemes

Electronic Product Code (EPC) is a framework for representing identities. Different schemes address different objects. SGTIN is used for serialised trade items; it is one member of the family, not a synonym for every EPC.

One identity, different representations

An EPC can be represented as a pure identity URI, a tag URI or a binary encoding. A reader often shows the binary data in hexadecimal. The tag representation can include control information, such as a filter, which is separate from the pure identity.

3036451FD456ED00000003E9
↓ SGTIN-96
GTIN   09521141890127
Serial 1001

Decode only what you actually have

RFID output may include an EPC, tag identifiers or memory control fields. Check the reader’s output format before pasting it into a decoder. A 24-character hexadecimal value is not automatically SGTIN-96; its header and fields must also make sense.

Read an SGTIN-96 by field

The 96 bits are split into a header, filter, partition, company prefix, item reference with indicator, and serial. In this site’s sample, the prefix is 9521141, the item component is 089012 and the serial is 1001. Changing only the filter changes the tag representation but leaves the pure item identity unchanged.

On a narrow screen, swipe the table sideways to read all columns.

EPC and EPCIS solve different problems

EPC expresses identity. EPCIS records and shares events about identified objects, including their time, location and business context. Decoding one EPC does not retrieve that event history. A traceability application must obtain events from the systems that capture and share them, with the appropriate access rights.

Reference: GS1 · EPCIS & CBV