GS1 Human Readable Interpretation(HRI) Implementation Guideline
Guideline to how to apply Human Readable Interpretation(HRI) on GS1 barcodes
Release 1.2, Ratified, Apr 2018

GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

Document Summary
Document Item

Current Value

Document Name

GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

Document DateApr 2018

Document Version

1.2

Document Issue
Document Status

Ratified

Document Description

Guideline to how to apply Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) on GS1barcodes

Contributors V 1.2
First Name

Last Name

CompanyRole

XavierBarras

GS1 France

Co chairNadineRadomskiDean Foods Company

Co chair

Yoshihiko

Iwasaki

GS1 Japan

WR SubmitterDavid

Buckley

GS1 Global OfficePublication

CoenJanssen

GS1 Global Office

EditorJohn

Ryu

GS1 Global Office

Facilitator

Szilvia

Bém

GS1 Hungary

Participant

Chuck

Biss

GS1 Global Office

Participant

Jonas

Buskenfried

GS1 Sweden

Participant

Jill

Buss

3M Company

Participant

EmanuelaCasalini

GS1 Italy

ParticipantDanielClark

GS1 Canada

Participant

BenjaminCouty

GS1 France

Participant

Kevin

Dean

GS1 Canada

Participant

RaymondDelnicki

GS1 US

Participant

Sean

DennisonGS1 Ireland

ParticipantVera

FeuersteinNestle

ParticipantRichardFisher

DoD Logistics AIT Standards Office

Participant

Andrew

Hearn

GS1 Global Office

Participant

Kurt

Herregodts

GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg

Participant

Kimmo

Keravuori

GS1 Finland

Participant

SabineKlaeser

GS1 Germany

Participant

Ildikó

Lieber

GS1 Hungary

Participant

Ilka

Machemer

GS1 Germany

ParticipantDanielMueller-Sauter

GS1 Switzerland

Participant

DanMullen

GS1 Global Office

Participant

MoriNaoko

GS1 Japan

Participant

SarinaPielaat

GS1 Netherlands

Participant

Neil

Piper

GS1 UK

Participant

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Page 2 of 15GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

MichielRuighaver

GS1 Australia

Participant

JohnRyu

GS1 Global Office

Participant

Eugen

Sehorz

GS1 Austria GmbH

Participant

StevenSimskeColorado State University

Participant

Mike

Soper

Symbology, Inc.

ParticipantMicheleSouthall

GS1 US

Participant

Marie

Vans

HP Inc.

Participant

Amber

Walls

GS1 US

Participant

GeorgeWright IV

Product Identification & Processing Systems

Participant

Contributors V 1.1
Name

Organisation

Joe Spreitzer

TargetToni Roberts

COSTCO

Doug Naal

Kraft

Paul LothianTyson Foods

Lela Tripp

Tyson Foods

Dave Shepard

Meat SolutionsPeter Tomicki

GE Healthcare

Harry GeelanThe Greenery

Haroon Rashid

Systech International

Sudeshna Das

GS1 India

Heinz Graf

GS1 Switzerland

Sue Schmid

GS1 Australia

Christian Lauer

GS1 Austria

Cedric Houlette

GS1 France

Sarina Pielaat

GS1 Netherlands

Adele Paris

GS1 South Africa

Tarryn Daniels

GS1 South Africa

Antoinette Bosman

GS1 South Africa

Owen Dance

GS1 New ZealandRich Richardson

GS1 USRay Delnicki

GS1 USJames Chronowski

GS1 US

Naoko Mori

GS1 Japan

Chuck Biss

GS1 Global OfficeFrank Sharkey

GS1 Global Office

Mark Frey

GS1 Global OfficeGreg Rowe

GS1 Global Office

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Log of Changes
ReleaseDate of Change

Changed By

Summary of Change

1.0

Sept 2011Mark Frey, Adele Paris &Greg Rowe

Updated per final comment resolutions. Guidewas approved

1.1

Sep 2015

Alex Johnson

Re-Branding

1.2

Apr 2018

Yoshihiko Iwasaki

WR18-036 updates to bring-up to date and fullyin line with the GS1 General Specifications

Disclaimer
GS1®, under its IP Policy, seeks to avoid uncertainty regarding intellectual property claims by requiring the participants inthe Work Group that developed this GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline to agreeto grant to GS1 members a royalty-free licence or a RAND licence to Necessary Claims, as that term is defined in the GS1
IP Policy. Furthermore, attention is drawn to the possibility that an implementation of one or more features of thisSpecification may be the subject of a patent or other intellectual property right that does not involve a Necessary Claim.
Any such patent or other intellectual property right is not subject to the licencing obligations of GS1. Moreover, theagreement to grant licences provided under the GS1 IP Policy does not include IP rights and any claims of third parties whowere not participants in the Work Group.
Accordingly, GS1 recommends that any organisation developing an implementation designed to be in conformance with thisSpecification should determine whether there are any patents that may encompass a specific implementation that theorganisation is developing in compliance with the Specification and whether a licence under a patent or other intellectual
property right is needed. Such a determination of a need for licencing should be made in view of the details of the specificsystem designed by the organisation in consultation with their own patent counsel.
THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ANY WARRANTY OTHER WISE ARISINGOUT OF THIS SPECIFICATION. GS1 disclaims all liability for any damages arising from use or misuse of this document,
whether special, indirect, consequential, or compensatory damages, and including liability for infringement of any
intellectual property rights, relating to use of information in or reliance upon this document.
GS1 retains the right to make changes to this document at any time, without notice. GS1 makes no warranty for the use ofthis document and assumes no responsibility for any errors which may appear in the document, nor does it make acommitment to update the information contained herein.
GS1 and the GS1 logo are registered trademarks of GS1 AISBL.

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GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

Table of Contents12

3Introduction ................................................................................................. 6
1.1

Purpose and scope .......................................................................................................... 6

1.2

Who can use this document? ............................................................................................ 6

GS1 barcodes ................................................................................................ 7
2.1

EAN/UPC ........................................................................................................................ 7

2.2

ITF-14 ........................................................................................................................... 7

2.3

GS1-128 ........................................................................................................................ 7

2.4

GS1 DataBar .................................................................................................................. 8

2.5

GS1 DataMatrix .............................................................................................................. 8

2.6

GS1 QR Code.................................................................................................................. 8

2.7

GS1 Composite Symbology .............................................................................................. 8

Human Readable Interpretation rules........................................................... 93.13.2

4

Where to print the HRI? ................................................................................................... 93.1.1

EAN/UPC symbology ............................................................................................... 93.1.2

Other symbologies .................................................................................................. 9

What to do if the HRI does not fit under the barcode? ........................................................ 103.2.1

Place the HRI above or to the side .......................................................................... 103.2.2

Use a combination of top, bottom, and side to place the HRI ...................................... 113.3

What to do if the Human Readable Interpretation line is too long? ....................................... 123.4

What to do if the barcode is printed in ladder orientation? .................................................. 123.5

What is the best font to use for printing the HRI? .............................................................. 13

3.6

How to represent the GS1 Application Identifiers in HRI? ................................................... 13

3.7

How to represent special characters in HRI? ..................................................................... 14

3.8

Do I always need to print the HRI? .................................................................................. 14

Glossary...................................................................................................... 15

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GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

1Introduction
The objective of this guide is to explain in simple terms how to manage the Human Readable
Interpretation (HRI) associated with GS1 barcodes. Human Readable Interpretation refers to thecharacters printed below, beside or above a barcode. HRI serves as a fall-back option in situations
where there is a need to manually interpret or process barcoded data.
The HRI rules enable industry to create consistent packaging designs that can be distributed tomultiple countries and used in the same way.

1.1

Purpose and scope
The purpose of this document is to provide an easy to follow guideline for the application of Human
Readable Interpretation as it relates to its use with barcodes. Each HRI Rule is explained in simple
terms along with examples or figures.

1.2

Who can use this document?
The intended audience of the document is:■

Manufacturers■

Retail and healthcare industry users such as retail checkout staff, nurses, warehouse staff■

Printing and design companies such as package designers and barcode software designcompanies.

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GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

2GS1 barcodes
This section provides an overview of all GS1 barcodes to which the HRI rules in this document apply.
All barcode examples follow the dimensional specifications as specified in the symbol specificationtables (GS1 General Specifications, section 5).

2.1

EAN/UPC
UPC-A

2.2

ITF-14

2.3

GS1-128

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EAN-13

UPC-E© 2018 GS1 AISBL

EAN-8

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GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

2.4

GS1 DataBar
Omnidirectional

Expanded

Stacked Omnidirectional

Expanded Stacked

Truncated

2.5

GS1 DataMatrix

2.6

GS1 QR Code

2.7

GS1 Composite Symbology

LimitedStackedExample of GS1 DataBar Limited Composite symbol with CC-A:(01)13112345678906(17)010615(10)A123456

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GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

3Human Readable Interpretation rules
Note: The rules in this section are based on the GS1 General Specifications [GENSPECS], in
particular sections 4 and 5. Rules and phrases that are direct quotes from the GS1 GeneralSpecifications rules are shown in italics.

3.1

Where to print the HRI?

3.1.1

EAN/UPC symbology
For EAN/UPC symbologies the following rule applies: The human readable digits SHALL be printed
underneath the main symbol and above the add-on symbol. [GENSPECS – section 5.2.5].
Some correct examples of EAN/UPC symbols, the HRI is placed at the bottom:
EAN-13

EAN-8

UPC-A

UPC-E

Some examples of EAN/UPC symbols with an add-on symbol. The HRI of the add-on symbol isplaced above it:
EAN-13(with two-digit add-on symbol)

3.1.2

EAN-13(with five-digit add-on symbol)

Other symbologies
For symbologies other than EAN/UPC, including symbologies that support multiple element strings,
the following rules apply.
Whether a GS1 AIDC data carrier encodes a GS1 identification key, GS1 key attributes, or a
combination of both, the HRI SHOULD be placed below the barcode and grouped together whereverphysically possible while maintaining the HRI legibility and minimum barcode height (as specified in
the appropriate symbol specification table). [GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 1].
When HRI is grouped together (for example, all HRI data is grouped below the barcode or all HRI
data is grouped above the barcode), HRI shall always follow the encoding sequencing of the GS1AIDC data carrier. [GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 1 clause c]Note: Encoding sequencing is the order in which the data encoded in the data carrier. For
example, if the order of the AIs encoded in the data carrier is 01, 17, 10, the HRI will appear
in the following order (01), (17), (10).

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Example of an ITF-14 symbol, HRI is placed at the bottom:

GS1-128 with multiple element strings, the HRI is grouped together and placed below the symbol:

A similar example, but now with a GS1 DataBar Expanded symbol:

The next two examples show the HRI grouped together under the symbol, but across multiple linesof text:
GS1 DataMatrix

GS1 QR Code

3.2

What to do if the HRI does not fit under the barcode?

3.2.1

Place the HRI above or to the side
For all symbologies, except for EAN/UPC barcodes, the HRI MAY be printed above, to the left, or tothe right of the symbol.
In such cases, the HRI SHALL always be printed adjacent to (obviously associated with) the GS1AIDC data carrier while protecting Quiet Zones. [GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 1 clause a].

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GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

An example, the HRI is placed above the ITF-14 symbol:

A GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked symbol with HRI placed to the right:

A GS1 DataMatrix symbol with HRI placed to the left:

3.2.2

Use a combination of top, bottom, and side to place the HRI
For symbologies that can contain multiple element strings, the HRI for GS1 identification keys andattributes MAY be separated (for example by placing the HRI for the GS1 identification key below
the barcode and the HRI of the attributes HRI above the barcode). In that case, the preference forGS1 key HRI placement is always below the barcode [GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 1 clause b].
In this example the HRI of the GTIN (AI (01) is placed under the GS1 DataBar Expanded symbol,
while the expiry date (AI (17) and the batch/lot number are placed above it:

The same example but now with a GS1-128 barcode:

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3.3

What to do if the Human Readable Interpretation line is too long?
A single data element shall not be broken into two lines of HRI, for example the data for a serial
number would appear on one line of HRI. [GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 2].
An example of correct HRI, all AIs and their corresponding values are placed on the same line:

The rule also implies that the AI should not be separated from its corresponding data. In cases
where space constraints do not permit all HRI to fit on one line, the AI and its corresponding data
should be moved to the next line.
A correct example, HRI is split across multiple lines but the AIs and corresponding data are kept
together:

The example below demonstrates how a single data element AI (17) is incorrectly broken into twolines of HRI.

3.4

What to do if the barcode is printed in ladder orientation?
Barcodes can be printed in picket fence or ladder orientation:

Picket Fence Orientation

Ladder Orientation

If the barcode is printed in ladder orientation on the product, the HRI SHOULD remain clearly
associated with the barcode and may appear below, to the left, or to the right of the symbol
respecting Quiet Zones. [GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 10].

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Note: The terms left, right and under are used relative to the symbol orientation, asillustrated in the figure below:[GENSPECS figure 4.15-3]
Example of correct HRI placement with a GS1-128 symbol printed in ladder orientation:

3.5

What is the best font to use for printing the HRI?
A clearly legible font SHALL be used (e.g., OCR-B as defined in ISO 1073-2) and the character set
as defined in [GENSPECS section 7.11]. Reasonable alternative type fonts and character sizes are
acceptable provided the interpretation is clearly legible. [GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 4]
Below is an example of OCR-B font:

3.6

How to represent the GS1 Application Identifiers in HRI?
GS1-128, GS1 DataBar Expanded, GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked, GS1 DataMatrix and GS1 QR
Code apply GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) to encode the data in a barcode. The AI values must berepresented as HRI between parentheses.
Parentheses SHALL surround AIs in HRI but are not encoded in the GS1 AIDC data carrier.
[GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 3]

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GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

The example below shows the correct representation of the AIs. The parentheses (brackets) aroundthe AIs are only present as HRI and not encoded in the symbol.

Note: The AIs as shown in HRI do not always fully match what is encoded in the symbol. Forexample, in some of the GS1 DataBar symbols AI (01) is implied by the symbol type and the‘01’ value is not encoded as such.

3.7

How to represent special characters in HRI?
HRI SHALL be limited to element strings and will not include GS1 AIDC data carrier overhead suchas separator characters. [GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 6]
All GS1 AIDC data carriers require the use of specific technical encoding characters. These special
characters allow scanning software to identify that the symbol conforms to GS1 encoding standards
and so enables the correct decoding of data elements.
Examples of such characters are Start and Stop Characters, FNC1 and data separators. Thesecharacters are not represented in the HRI since they are intended only for use by automatedscanning software

3.8

Do I always need to print the HRI?
HRI SHALL appear except in rare circumstances for specific applications where there are extreme
space constraints (e.g., direct part marking). If the GS1 AIDC data carrier cannot be read orscanned and the HRI does not appear on the label, package, or item, non-HRI text SHOULD be usedas backup information. [GENSPECS , section 4.15, rule 8]
Note: For Healthcare applications specific rules have been defined to address some of theseaspects. [see GENSPECS , sections 4.15 and 4.15.1]
Example of a GS1 DataMatrix directly marked on an item, space limitations inhibit full
representation of the HRI:

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GS1 Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) Implementation Guideline

4Glossary
Please refer to the www.gs1.org/glossary for the latest version of the glossary.

TermDefinitionattribute

An element string that provides additional information about an entity identified with a GS1
identification key, such as batch number associated with a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN).

element string

The combination of a GS1 Application Identifier and GS1 Application Identifier data field.

GS1 AIDC data carrier

A means to represent data in a machine readable form; used to enable automatic reading of
the element strings as specified for use by GS1.

GS1 Application
Identifier

The field of two or more digits at the beginning of an element string that uniquely defines its
format and meaning.

GS1 identification key

A unique identifier for a class of objects (e.g., a trade item) or an instance of an object (e.g.,a logistic unit).

human readable
interpretation(HRI)

Characters, such as letters and numbers, which can be read by persons and are encoded in
GS1 AIDC data carriers confined to a GS1 standard structure and format. The human readable
interpretation is a one-to-one illustration of the encoded data. However start, stop, shift andfunction characters, as well as the symbol check character, are not shown in the humanreadable interpretation.

non-HRI text

Characters such as letters and numbers that can be read by persons and may or may not beencoded in GS1 AIDC data carriers and are not confined to a structure and format based on
GS1 standards (e.g., a date code expressed in a national format that could be used to encode
a date field in a GS1 AIDC data carrier, brand owner name, consumer declarations).

Quiet Zone

A clear space which precedes the start character of a barcode and follows the stop character.
Formerly referred to as “clear area” or “light margin”.

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