Use Cases 2026-08-30 7 min By Cornelious Fazal

What Is GS1 Sunrise 2027? A Plain Guide for Businesses

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Quick Answer

GS1 Sunrise 2027 is a coordinated industry goal — not a law — for retail point-of-sale systems worldwide to be able to scan 2D barcodes in addition to 1D UPC/EAN barcodes by the end of 2027. Businesses selling through retail should plan to print a 2D barcode alongside the existing linear one; the linear code stays until retailers retire it on their own timeline.

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// FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. It is an industry initiative coordinated by GS1 and its member organisations, not legislation. There is no fine for missing it. Real deadlines come from individual retail partners, some of whom publish their own supplier requirements. Validate both encoded data and print quality with tools accepted by the production and retail workflow.

Not yet. During the transition you print the 2D barcode alongside the linear one. Individual retailers decide when they no longer need the linear code — there is no coordinated switch-off date. Confirm the carrier, data syntax, and transition plan with the national GS1 organization and each relevant trading partner.

For most consumer goods, a QR code encoding a GS1 Digital Link URL. Some sectors use GS1 DataMatrix. Your national GS1 organisation or retail partners can confirm what they accept. Retailer capability and supplier deadlines can differ even though the industry goal targets the end of 2027.

Not directly — Sunrise 2027 is about retail point-of-sale scanning. A GS1 Digital Link QR code can still be worth adding for consumer engagement and traceability, but there is no retail-checkout pressure if your products never carry a store barcode. Validate both encoded data and print quality with tools accepted by the production and retail workflow.

The Digital Product Passport is EU law for specific product groups on specific dates. GS1 Sunrise 2027 is a global retail-industry target with no legal force. They are complementary — one GS1 Digital Link QR code can serve both — but they come from different places and should be planned separately.
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