GS1 Sunrise 2027
The GS1 initiative to make 2D barcodes (QR codes) scannable at retail checkout worldwide by the end of 2027, alongside the familiar EAN-13.
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GS1 Sunrise 2027 is the global retail commitment to be able to scan 2D barcodes — usually a QR code following the GS1 Digital Link standard — at the checkout by the end of 2027. The familiar EAN-13 linear barcode will not disappear overnight; the goal is for point-of-sale systems to accept both, so manufacturers can move to a single 2D code on the pack at their own pace.
The difference is in what the code carries. An EAN-13 holds only the GTIN. A GS1 Digital Link QR code links that same GTIN to a web address and can also carry the batch, expiry date and serial number. One scan then serves two purposes: ringing up the sale and pointing the shopper or the supply chain to product information, provenance or a recall.
For your labeling, Sunrise 2027 means your label software has to build 2D codes with variable data straight from your ERP or PIM. Anyone already able to print GS1 Digital Link QR codes or GS1 DataMatrix is ready for retailers that start requiring 2D — without last-minute changes to templates and data connections.
Source: GS1
Frequently asked questions — GS1 Sunrise 2027
What is GS1 Sunrise 2027?
A global retail commitment to be able to scan 2D barcodes (QR codes with GS1 Digital Link) at the checkout by the end of 2027, alongside the EAN-13.
Will the EAN-13 barcode disappear in 2027?
No. The EAN-13 stays valid for now. Sunrise 2027 ensures checkouts accept both codes, so the move to 2D can happen gradually.
What does the 2027 QR code mean for my labels?
Your label software must build 2D codes with variable data (batch, expiry, serial) from your ERP, such as a GS1 Digital Link QR or GS1 DataMatrix.
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