The Global Location Number (GLN) is one of 12 unique Identification Keys within the GS1 Standards. Many businesses know of GS1 Standards from the retail industry’s most common product identifier, the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). This is the number at the bottom of your UPC or EAN barcode and what is captured when scanned at the point of sale, placed in a marketplace listing, or picked and scanned in a stockroom for shipping. The GS1 GTIN uniquely identifies products globally and links to the company that assigns them to their product for full transparency with their trading partners and consumers. The retail industry has adopted and scaled the GTIN standard for the last 50 years, transforming physical and digital retail.
Just as the GTIN has standardized the way companies identify their products to be interoperable with systems and trading partners, the GLN is a unique, standardized 13-digit number used to identify legal entities, operational parties, and physical and digital locations within a business. The GLN allows users to answer “who” and “where” questions within their own organization and throughout the global supply chain. For example, a supplier shipping a product identifies the “what” is being shipped by assigning a GTIN to the product. When this information is combined with the company’s GLN, they can communicate “who” is shipping the product, “where” it is coming from, “where” it is now, and “who” and “where” it is going.
How do you get GLNs, and how are they assigned?
If your business is currently a member of GS1 US or any other GS1 member organization, you have most likely licensed a GS1 Company Prefix to create and assign GTINs to your products. Organizations that have licensed a GS1 Company Prefix can also generate and allocate GLNs using the same Company Prefix based on the licensed capacity; for example, if your company licensed a Prefix with a 100 capacity, they could create 100 GLNs. GLNs can then be created and assigned to an organization’s parties or locations.
A party is an entity that must be represented in a business-related transaction. A GLN identifying a party answers the question of “who” is involved within the use case leveraging GS1 standards. This may be a legal entity or function.
A legal entity is any business, government body, department, individual, or other institution that has a standing in the eyes of the law and has the capacity to enter into agreements or contracts. This could be whole companies, subsidiaries, or divisions within a company.
A function is an organizational subdivision or department most commonly segmented based on the specific tasks being performed, as defined by the organization, such as an accounting department, purchasing department, hospital pharmacy, etc.
A location is a particular place or position. A GLN identifying a location is used to answer the question of “where” something has been, is, or will be and can be physical or digital.
A physical location is a tangible place that may be represented by an address, coordinates, or other means. Physical locations like a manufacturing facility, distribution center, dock door, bin location, or something mobile, such as a truck or ship, can be fixed.
A digital location is an electronic (non-physical address) such as an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) gateway or enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
When an organization creates GLNs, it defines a prescribed data set that describes the party or location. This data is considered core information required to enable use cases and establish relationships (e.g., parent company, party/location name, address, coordinates, roles, collaborative identifiers, etc.). The GLN and associated party or location information is then saved in a database, such as GS1 US Data Hub │ Location, and can be accessed or shared among supply chain partners.
Where are GLNs used?
Proprietary entity and location identifiers can present problems in the market as a business scales its operations. Some common challenges are duplication, where two or more trading partners use the same location codes and a non-standardized complex code structure that makes application programming difficult and costly and can lead to errors in trading partners’ systems.
GLNs provide a consistent and standardized way to identify parties and locations throughout all of the systems and processes where data is sent and received throughout the supply chain. This includes databases and IT systems, EDI transactions, visibility applications, and centralized product data repositories like the Global Data Synchronization Network. GLNs can also be embedded into barcodes, identifying a product’s destination or capturing where it came from.
Industry initiatives for improved data quality and governance strongly incentivize businesses to adopt the GLN standard. As businesses continue digitizing data, they want to ensure it can be shared, ingested, and scaled across current and future supply chain trading partners’ systems.
Business Benefits of Using GLNs
All parts of the GS1 System of Standards are designed to work together to address the needs and priorities specific to an organization. This means that those already using GTINs to identify their products or Serial Shipping Container Codes (SSCC) to identify their logistic units can incorporate GLNs to provide the “who” and “where” to the “what” already being identified. The GLN is a global standard that can be used by any organization involved with any industry sector worldwide. This enables any party or location to be uniquely identified using the same standardized identifier, regardless of where they do business. This will build trust with your trading partner community as they will know they are getting reliable, consistent information about who they are interacting with and where each company is conducting business.
To learn more about the Global Location Number and other GS1 Standards, please visit the GS1 US website at http://www.gs1us.org.
Comply PRO+ encourages the adoption of GLN codes and has fields for the GLN on the Company and Supplier pages.
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Most Amazon sellers I have dealt with over the last thirteen years contact me to fix an issue with a test report, rejection of a certificate, or supporting documentation or to identify regulations needed to develop and launch a new product. When I ask them if they have a compliance program, they only admit to having what Amazon requires to list their product, and only a few are interested in learning more. I am amazed that with the money they pay for search optimization, consultants, listing upgrades, etc., they are not interested in investing in a program that ensures that they maintain and protect their business and want to keep growing. Today more than ever, with factories selling against them in the same marketplace, sellers need to show “Due Care” to protect themselves against false claims and, more importantly, selling non-compliant products.
Legal Requirements: Compliance with consumer product safety regulations is mandatory for Amazon and major retailers. These regulations protect consumers from unsafe products that can cause harm or injury. By implementing a compliance program, Amazon sellers can ensure that their products meet all applicable safety standards and regulations, reducing the risk of legal penalties, fines, or even product recalls.
Customer Trust and Reputation: Maintaining customer trust is crucial for any business, including Amazon sellers. By prioritizing consumer product safety, sellers demonstrate their commitment to providing safe and reliable products. This builds customer trust and helps establish a positive reputation, leading to repeat purchases and positive reviews.
Risk Mitigation: Implementing a comprehensive compliance program helps sellers identify and mitigate potential risks associated with their products. By conducting thorough product testing, quality control checks, and risk assessments, sellers can identify and address any safety concerns before their products reach consumers. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of accidents, injuries, or negative incidents associated with product safety. While very important, very few sellers implement more than the minimum required to get their product listed.
Liability Reduction: A well-implemented compliance program can help mitigate potential liability for Amazon sellers if a product-related incident occurs. By having processes to demonstrate due diligence, such as keeping records of safety testing, certifications, and compliance documentation, sellers can better defend themselves against legal claims, and requests from the CPSC, or retailers and show that they have taken necessary precautions during the development and manufacture of their products.
Marketplace Requirements: Amazon has policies and guidelines that sellers must adhere to. Each new marketplace you enter may require or impose additional strict requirements related to product safety, quality, and compliance. Failing to meet these requirements can result in penalties, listing suspensions, or account suspensions. With a compliance program, sellers can ensure that they meet Amazon’s standards and, more importantly, regulatory requirements to avoid negative consequences.
Global Market Access: Many Amazon sellers operate in international marketplaces, which may have unique product safety regulations. Implementing a compliance program enables sellers to navigate the complexities of different regulatory frameworks and expand their business globally. It helps ensure that products meet the safety requirements of various countries, allowing sellers to access a broader customer base without facing regulatory barriers.
A consumer product safety compliance program is crucial for Amazon sellers to fulfill legal obligations, maintain customer trust, mitigate risks, reduce liability, comply with marketplace requirements, and access global markets. By prioritizing product safety, sellers can protect their customers, brand reputation, and business interests.
A consumer product safety compliance program typically consists of several key elements:
1. Appointment of a compliance manager to handle all compliance-related items and serve as a go-to person for escalating any quality or safety issues.
2. Regulatory Knowledge: Stay informed about the applicable consumer product safety regulations and standards in the regions where you sell your products. This includes understanding the specific requirements for labeling, packaging, product materials, testing, certification, and reporting.
3. Risk Assessment: Conduct a thorough risk assessment of your products to identify potential hazards, assess their severity, and determine the likelihood of occurrence. This involves considering factors such as product design, manufacturing processes, materials used, and potential consumer misuse or abuse.
4. Product Testing and Certification: Ensure your products undergo appropriate testing by CPSC-accredited laboratories to verify compliance with safety standards and regulations. This may include testing for physical safety, electrical safety, chemical content, flammability, and other relevant parameters. Obtain necessary certifications or marks to demonstrate compliance.
5. Supplier Due Diligence: Implement a process to evaluate and select reliable suppliers prioritizing product safety. Verify that your suppliers adhere to quality management systems and comply with applicable safety regulations. Maintain clear communication with suppliers to address any safety concerns promptly. If you want to sell to major retailers, this step is critical.
6. Quality Control Processes: Establish robust quality control procedures to monitor your products’ manufacturing, packaging, and labeling. Regularly conduct inspections to ensure that products meet safety and quality standards and that any identified issues are addressed promptly. Tailor your inspection protocols to your product, not to the category, making sure you look for items previously brought up in reviews or customer feedback.
7. Incident Reporting and Response: Implement a system to track and report any incidents or safety concerns related to your products. Develop a protocol and intake form for addressing customer complaints, conducting investigations, implementing corrective actions, and escalating issues when necessary.
8. Documentation and Record Keeping with Comply PRO+ Maintain thorough documentation related to product safety, including test reports, certifications, compliance documentation, supplier agreements, audits, certificates, and any relevant correspondence. Keep accurate records of product testing, Batch tracking, inspections, and other compliance-related activities.
9. Training and Awareness: Provide comprehensive training to your employees and suppliers regarding product safety requirements, best practices, and the importance of compliance. Foster a culture of safety awareness throughout your organization.
10. Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and update your compliance program to adapt to evolving regulations and industry best practices. Stay updated on product safety alerts, recalls, and emerging safety issues to proactively address potential risks. Use your quality program data to identify and fix issues identified during production and reported in bad reviews to upgrade your product over time.
11. Compliance Audits: Conduct periodic internal audits to assess the effectiveness of your compliance program. Identify any gaps or areas for improvement and take corrective actions as needed.
By incorporating all of the elements listed above into a consumer product safety compliance program using the Comply PRO+ framework, Amazon sellers can establish a robust program to sell globally, ensure the safety and compliance of their products, protect consumers, mitigate potential risks, and protect their brands.
Contact us today for a demo so we can show you how easy it is to protect your brand you worked so hard to build!
The CPSC is committed to continuously improving its import surveillance process so that it may help reduce unreasonable risk of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products and help the agency maintain its standing as a leader in consumer product safety in an ever-expanding global marketplace.
In support of continuous improvement, the Office of Import Surveillance (EXIS) has begun the phased implementation of electronic filing (eFiling) of Certificates of Compliance (see graphic below) to modernize the way import data are processed. This allows importers of regulated consumer products to easily store and eFile certain certificate data via CPSC’s Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set.
Benefits of the CPSC eFiling system include:
Fewer holds for compliant importers
Reduction in risk score for demonstrated compliance with CPSC’s requirements
Potentially shorter review periods
Increased CPSC focus on higher risk products
The CPSC understands the trade industry’s key role in helping develop a successful eFiling system. As such, a Beta Pilot effort will launch in the fall of 2023 to test IT systems. This pilot will include up to 50 volunteer participants who will be asked to provide feedback to inform the system design and final rulemaking for the full implementation of the eFiling system.
This public-private partnership is essential to the successful implementation of eFiling. We have exceeded our minimum threshold of 30 participants, but there is opportunity for more importers to participate in CPSC’s pilot.
The CPSC will continue to communicate regularly through future newsletters, fact sheets, and other information that will be available via their eFiling website (www.cpsc.gov/efiling), social media channels (@USCPSC), and their mailing list.
What is the IT-DAG?
The Information Technology-Data Advisory Group (IT-DAG) is an industry working group established to advise on the development of systems and processes for CPSC’s eFiling implementation. The IT-DAG kicked off in December 2022 and has made great progress in reviewing and providing valuable input to the CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) and IT system requirements. Below is a summary of IT-DAG activities and results over the past several months:
Since December 2022, the IT-DAG has held six meetings where they reviewed and discussed the draft Beta Pilot CATAIR, the PGA Message Set, and the Product Registry.
CPSC has highlighted system business rules and demonstrated functionality that supports entry and management of certificate data in the Product Registry database.
Participants have been instrumental in providing valuable feedback to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the system design and functionality.
The draft CATAIR has been updated, posted on www.cpsc.gov/efiling, and shared with IT-DAG participants as they begin their internal IT integration process, which will enable the electronic transmission of certificate data into the PGA Message Set.
The IT-DAG will continue to meet and review Product Registry functionality. The public is welcome to attend IT-DAG meetings as a non-member in listen-only mode or preview meeting summaries on the docket.
Regarding product safety, it is essential to stay ahead of the curve, and companies are often faced with the decision of how often to optimize their compliance program. Companies may ask themselves why they should change their existing program if it works. However, the real question should be: have I audited my program recently?
Not having a robust product safety compliance program can be risky if you are a business owner, executive, or Amazon Seller. Without proper policies in place, you could be putting your customers, employees, and brand reputation at risk. Consumers expect products to function correctly and meet specific safety standards in today’s market. Failing to comply with these standards can lead to costly lawsuits and damage your brand’s reputation. Amazon Sellers have seen increased compliance requests to approve a product, including instructions, warnings, labeling, and registration cards. Submitting these items will get your approval, but can you show proof of compliance to new retailers that need to see these policies and processes to ensure you deliver a safe product with each new shipment? More than having the documents is required, as all major retailers seek proof that you know what you are doing and have systems and training for your employees and contractors. Compare the Vendor qualification for Target in 2020 to today; you can now see the inclusion of a Quality Program Assessment and a Factory Assessment, and vendors are expected to employ best practices and well-documented manufacturing and GMP processes. Part of this results from being unable to visit your suppliers, but the other part is that good quality practices result in compliant products with fewer returns and chargebacks. But policies are part of the program as you also need staff training and process for record keeping. Your ideal compliance program will have all the components for identifying, capturing, and storing all company data, not just for Retailer qualification but in the event you would need to file a 15B report with the CPSC. Have you updated your program recently to identify and record where this data exists should you need to access it quickly? You also need a retention plan to back up this data should you migrate to a new system.
Adjust your Program to Changing Requirements
A product safety compliance program is essential for any business that produces or sells physical goods. The program should include policies that ensure all products meet mandatory requirements set by regulatory agencies, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It should also involve regular testing and documentation of each product’s performance and any necessary changes to meet the standard. Having proof of compliance can protect your business from liability claims if an injury occurs due to a faulty product. You should document all your steps, from the product’s design to delivery to the consumer. Your obligation does not stop with the sale. You also need an incident reporting policy and escalation program to satisfy the CPSC’s duty to report once you are notified of an incident while using your product. An incident can be reported to you via your customer service CRM system; it can come from a retailer or Amazon or be submitted to the Saferproducts.gov website. If you have a reportable incident and it is determined you need a recall, you should have a plan to prepare for this worst-case scenario. Amazon does not yet require a recall plan but has been discussing with the CPSC how they would handle recalls on their platform should one be needed.
Major retailers always ask about your recall plans, and having one can save you money on your product liability insurance. Today, many are now asking about how you are integrating ESG into your product safety program. ESG stands for “Environmental, Social, and Governance.” It can be described as a set of practices (policies, procedures, metrics, etc.) that organizations implement to limit negative or enhance positive impacts on the environment, society, and governance. Do you have the capability to add these items to your program in an integral way to meet these current and future requirements? Are you aware of new technology solutions that enable you to scale your program quickly and are more cost-effective than building or piecing together several systems?
We built Comply PRO+ for you to have an out-of-the-box platform to securely build your compliance program to show seller proof of compliance when entering new markets and sales channels. Post covid, more people are working remotely. Comply PRO+ is built on Amazon Web Services and is accessible anywhere there is an internet connection. We use 2-factor Authentication to secure your login and password so no unauthorized users are on your account. You still need to craft the policies and procedures to align with how you operate your business, but you do not need to spend time and money connecting several systems to capture the data you need for a robust program. If you haven’t done so in a while, audit your current program to see if it has the features you need to sell products in multiple sales channels and markets today and for what lies ahead tomorrow.
Compare these features to your current program…
1. Accessible anywhere
2. Secure platform with secure 2 Factor Authentication
3. Real-time Pro Dash Dashboard – Add dimension to your program with live stats.
4. Customizable Roles for Executives, Compliance Managers, Team Members, Employees, Consultants, and Authorized Representatives
5. Scheduler and Activities Calendar with Task Assignment
6. Incident Reporting on the Product Level
7. Policy and SOP Document Library
8. Licensed Products Tracking
9. Product Type Views
10. Where Products Sold by Country Map
11. Sales Channel Stats and Vendor Management
12. CPSIA Ready Live View for Children’s Products
13. Supplier Stats and Policy Reviews for Each
14. Supplier Audits with Sales Channel Tracking
15. Product Family Feature for uploading one document to many
16. Technical File Product folders format for selling globally
17. Custom Fields on the Product Page to fit your products and capture new ESG requirements.
18. Hide and or Create Custom Folders I
19. Test Lab Stats and Management
20. Test Report Expiration Reminder with Email Alerts
21. Test Plan Section
22. Production Runs / Batch Tracking
23. Shipping Details & Tracking
24. Quality & Inspection Tracking
25. Certificate Management
26. Authorized Representative Access ( for E.U. & U.K.)
27. Ez Uploader makes onboarding a breeze; be up and running quickly.
28. Extensive How to Knowledge Base
29. Great Customer Service
30. Coming Soon…. CO. Comply company branded microsite for employee training!
If you are happy with your current program but need to optimize it and add a 3rd dimension, we have the solution for you.
Complete Compliance with An Eye On Business Transformation™
Comply PRO+ is the most ergonomic, economical, and comprehensive product safety compliance suite for managing your compliance program. It offers an easy-to-use system that can help you document “Due Care” from design to delivery while providing data-driven insights to ensure effective compliance processes. With its intuitive dashboard and automated alerts, you can quickly audit your compliance program and manage all compliance and sales channel activities from one screen. Schedule a Demo today, so we can show you this revolutionary system and get an additional user FREE when you sign up.
