Water and Beverages: Marking Code, What It Contains and How It Looks

Касымова Шафиъа

The composition of information included in the marking code, the procedure for forming and applying digital identification means for water and soft drinks are regulated by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated 01.11.2022 No. 631.

According to Clause 8 of Appendix No. 5 of this Resolution, "Mandatory digital marking of water and soft drinks is carried out by creating an identification means (marking code in machine-readable form) in the form of a two-dimensional GS1 Data Matrix barcode and applying it to the consumer packaging."

The marking code created by the NIS Operator "Asl Belgisi" contains information distributed into 3 groups:

first group of data - product code consisting of 14 characters (digits), preceded by the application identifier (01);
second group of data - individual serial number of the trade unit, represented by the previous identifier (21) and consisting of 13 numeric characters or alphanumeric sequences (digits, lowercase and uppercase Latin letters, as well as special characters);
third group of data – verification key consisting of 4 characters (digits, lowercase and uppercase Latin letters, as well as special symbols) and application identifier (93).

As a result, the marking code, which contains all the necessary information about the water and soft drink, in the correct order, should look as follows:

(01) 01234567890123 - GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)

(21) 7OD3k4Xy-TaBc - SN (Serial Number)

(93) QwER - Verification Key

GTIN - 14 characters, SN - 13 characters, verification key - 4 characters.

0101234567890123217OD3k4Xy-TaBc93QwER

❗ Additional note: The marking code for group packaging is generated according to a similar formation procedure. However, the distinguishing feature is the GTIN value specified in subgroup (01):
(01) 01234567890123 — GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), where the GTIN of the group packaging is indicated.

Requirements for the applied marking code

The digital identification means is applied to the consumer packaging and/or group packaging and/or label and/or sticker, preventing the separation of the digital identification means from the product packaging.

On consumer packaging, the digital identification means is applied with a size of at least 10x10 millimeters in a specially designated place;
The location for applying digital identification means is determined independently by the product turnover participant;
In group and transport packaging, digital identification means are applied to the packaging and must have sizes facilitating reading measures;
The digital identification means can be applied in any visible area of the packaging.

The digital identification means must be positioned so as not to violate the integrity of the information applied to the product packaging in accordance with the requirements of normative documents in the field of technical regulation.
Digital identification means used for consumer packaging must meet the following requirements:
The digital identification means is applied to the consumer packaging by direct printing and by a method that does not allow the digital identification means to be separated from the consumer packaging without damage during the shelf life of water and soft drinks;
The digital identification means is applied directly on the production line or in the warehouse area or at customs warehouses in the form of a two-dimensional barcode on a physical medium (label) in a specially designated contrasting zone of the consumer packaging (at least 10*10 millimeters);
The size and location of digital identification means should ensure the possibility of direct detection and reading of the marking code using laser scanners, including data collection terminals, special (mobile) applications without the need to open (damage) the consumer packaging;
Digital identification means should not be printed on transparent packaging film or other external packaging material and covered by other information;
The digital identification means is used in accordance with ISO/IEC 15415 standard at quality class C level or higher.
In case of production of water and soft drinks on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the application of digital identification means to this product is carried out at the places of production or storage of the product.
In case of import of water and soft drinks from other countries into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, digital identification means may be applied in the following order:
during the production of water and non-alcoholic beverages;
on the territory of other states without crossing the state border of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
on the territory of a customs warehouse before registration in the customs regime "release for free circulation (import)".
Transfer of marking codes to identification means and their application to consumer packaging and/or packaging and/or labels and/or stickers are carried out by the manufacturer, importer organizations and/or service provider.
When using identification means, the service provider must ensure compliance with the quality standards of printing identification means.
After converting the marking code into a digital identification means by the service provider and applying it to the packaging or label, or sticker, a print quality validation is carried out before transferring the packaging or label, or sticker with the applied digital identification means to the product turnover participant.
According to the sanitary-hygienic technical regulation on the safety of packaging in contact with food products (UzTR.476-021:2017), approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 476 dated July 7, 2017, it is necessary to use certified materials that comply with these requirements.
It is necessary to ensure the preservation (stability) of identification means throughout the entire shelf life of the product considering storage and transportation conditions established by the manufacturer.
The service provider may not transfer marking codes received from product turnover participants to a third party.
Printing of identification means on a physical medium (sticker) is allowed by the following methods:
The physical medium (sticker) containing the identification means is applied to the consumer packaging in a manner that does not damage the identification means and does not allow it to be separated from the packaging.
Identification means applied on the physical medium (sticker) must comply with the requirements of the Resolution.
The following requirements are established for applying the sticker to the consumer packaging:
From the moment of sticker production until its sale to the end consumer, the identification means and other information applied to it are prepared in such a way as to ensure their storage and readability;
The sticker is applied directly to the packaging (outside the packaging) in the place provided for its application in the design scheme of such packaging;
The sticker is applied in a way that does not allow it to be separated without damaging the packaging and the sticker itself and cannot be reused;
The use of the sticker should not violate the integrity and availability of information applied to the packaging in accordance with the requirements of normative documents in the field of technical regulation;
The sticker must contain the identification means that complies with the requirements of the Resolution, as well as the name of the water and soft drinks subject to digital marking in the form of readable printed text, product code, and individual serial number of the packaging;
It is not allowed to apply any inscriptions, drawings, and wrapper elements on the sticker that cover the sticker surface and/or hinder the reading of identification means.