As promised in my recent Question of the Week, I’m going to take a closer look at SCC-14, known globally as EAN/UCC-14.  This symbology is also known as Shipping Container Code because it is used for fixed-content shipping containers.  This 14-digit symbology has two different representations, UCC/EAN 128 format or the ITF-14 format which is based on Interleaved 2 of 5.  The most widely used barcode representation is the UCC/EAN 128 with Application Identifier (AI) 01 pictured above.  SCC-14 consists of 14 digits, including a check digit that is calculated the same way as a UPC/EAN check digit.  A SCC-14 barcode consists of the following pieces of data:

• Digit 1- Package Indicator (PI)
• Digits 2-3- UPC numbering system/EAN country prefix
• Digits 4-8- Manufacturer code
• Digits 9-13- Item identification number
• Digit 14- Check digit

Because SCC-14 is used for marking and labeling containers that hold products marked with UPC-A or EAN-13 barcodes, these codes are included in the SCC-14 code.  The digits from position 2-13 are the UPC-A or EAN-13 code that is encoded on the products within the case.

The packaging indicator is determined by what is in the container.  A PI of 0 is used to indicate a container that doesn’t have similar items or items without the same UPC or EAN.  PI’s of 1-8 differentiate between cases with different quantities of the same item.  And a PI of 9 indicates that the number of items in each case varies and isn’t fixed.

Unlike a UPC or EAN, you don’t have to register for an SCC-14 number.  It can be produced following the rules above and created with barcode label software.  If you need more information about software that supports this code, please contact me at ehodges@barcode.com.