In GS1 XML, the format of GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is defined by applying a pattern to a string data type: \d{14}. This means that it can only contain 14 numeric characters. Thus, whether the actual number is 13, 12 or 8 digits long, it has to be right justified and filled with zeroes up to 14 digits.
In GS1 EANCOM®, the format of the GTIN is defined as: n..14. This means that it has to be numeric, up to 14 digits long. Besides, the EDIFACT rule for data suppression specifies that: “In data elements for which the Trade Data Elements Directory specifies variable length and no other restrictions, non-significant character positions, (i.e. leading zeroes and trailing spaces) should be suppressed”. Thus, all the leading zeroes in the GTIN number have to be suppressed.
Consequently, the GTIN format in GS1 EANCOM® is different than in GS1 XML, where the leading zeroes must be retained (or added if necessary).
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