This part of ISO/IEC 15459 specifies a unique string of characters for the identification of groupings
of products, product packages, transport units and items. The character string is intended to be
represented in a linear bar code symbol and two-dimensional symbol or other AIDC media attached
to the entity to meet management needs and/or regulatory needs (e.g. customs clearance). To address
these needs different types of identifiers are recognized in the various parts of ISO/IEC 15459, which
allows different requirements to be met by the unique identifiers associated within the context of the
specific parts of ISO/IEC 15459.
The unique identifiers for grouping or products, product packages, transport units and items enables
grouping by e.g. type, characteristics, order, manufacturing, quality, location, movement, etc. to be
uniquely identified. It is possible to use with other unique individual identifiers defined in other parts
of ISO/IEC 15459. Encoding these unique identifiers in a data carrier enables information about the
item processing to be clearly identified.
The identity for groupings is intended for “look-up” purposes, and cannot be directly used as an entity
identity in the strictest sense of the definition as used, for example, in ISO/IEC 15459-1, ISO/IEC 15459-
4, and ISO/IEC 15459-5.