Standard international logistics labels are designed to replace confusing and repetitive labeling practices with standardized data structures, label designs, and label placement standards. The only requirement for the best practices used to label logistics units around the world is that each logistics unit must have a unique serial number or “serial shipping box code” (SSCC) identifier.
The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is a globally unique code that provides a unique identifier for a logistics unit (transport and/or storage). The logistics unit identification code consists of four parts: extension bit, manufacturer identification code, serial number and check code, which is an 18-digit numeric code.
A complete logistics unit label consists of three label segments, typically in order from top to bottom: carrier segment, customer segment, and supplier segment. Each segment represents a combination of a class of information in two basic forms. The label text content is located above the label segment and the barcode symbology is located below the label segment. Among them, the SSCC barcode symbology should be located at the bottom end of the label. See Appendix B for examples of labels.
SSCC is a must for all logistics unit labels, and other information should be used in conjunction with the application identifier AI if needed and comply with the provisions of 4.1.2.
Carrier segments typically contain information that is determined at the time of loading, such as arrival postal codes, shipping codes, carrier-specific routing, and loading and unloading information. See Appendix B for examples of labels.
Customer segments typically contain information that the supplier has identified at the time of ordering and order processing. It mainly includes the arrival location, purchase order code, customer-specific route and cargo loading and unloading information.
Vendor segments typically contain information that the vendor identified at the time of packing. SSCC is the only identification code that a logistics unit should have. Examples of labels are provided in Appendix B.
Product attribute information required by customers and carriers, such as product variants, production dates, packaging dates and expiry dates, batch numbers (group numbers), serial numbers, etc., can also be represented in this section. See for label examples
Users can choose between 105mm×148mm (A6 size) or 148mm×210mm (A5 size) according to their needs.
When there is only SSCC or SSCC and other small amounts of data, 105mm × 148mm can be selected.
The barcode symbology on the label of the logistics unit should comply with the following requirements and the provisions of GB/T15425.
The size of one X is as small as 0.495mm and as large as 1.016mm. The larger the X size selected within the specified range, the higher the scanning reliability.
The height of a barcode symbol should be greater than or equal to 32mm.
The bar and empty bars of the barcode symbology should be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the logistics unit. In any case, the SSCC barcode symbology should be located at the bottom of the label.
Human-readable characters can be placed in the upper or lower part of the barcode symbol, including the application identifier, data content, check digit, but not the representation of special symbol characters or symbol check characters. App identifiers should be distinguished from data content by parentheses. The height of the character for human reading is not less than 3mm, and it is clear and easy to read, located at the lower end of the barcode symbology.