ISO 17366:2013

Supply chain applications of RFID - Product packaging

ISO 17366:2013 defines the basic features of RFID for use in the supply chain when applied to product packaging. In particular it a) provides specifications for the identification of the product packaging, b) makes recommendations about additional information on the RF tag, c) specifies the semantics and data syntax to be used, d) specifies the data protocol to be used to interface with business applications and the RFID system, e) specifies the minimum performance requirements, f) specifies the air interface standards between the RF interrogator and RF tag, and g) specifies the reuse and recyclability of the RF tag.

Applications de chaîne d'approvisionnements de RFID — Empaquetage de produit

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 21-Feb-2013
• ICS: 55.020 - Packaging and distribution of goods in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Start Date: 25-May-2023
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revised: ISO/IEC 17360:2023 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - Supply chain applications of RFID - Product tagging, product packaging, transport units, returnable transport units and returnable packaging items
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022
• Revises: ISO 17366:2009 - Supply chain applications of RFID - Product packaging
• Effective Date: 07-Nov-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 17366
Second edition
2013-03-01
Supply chain applications of RFID —
Product packaging
Applications de chaîne d’approvisionnements de RFID —
Empaquetage de produit
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
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ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Conformance and performance specifications . 1
3 Normative references . 1
4 Terms and definitions . 2
5 Concepts . 3
5.1 Differentiation between this layer and the preceding layers . 3
5.2 Returnable packaging item . 5
5.3 Unique item identifier . 5
5.4 Other identification requirements . 8
6 Differentiation within this layer . 8
6.1 Business processes . 8
6.2 Lot/batch vs. serial number vs. product identification only . 9
6.3 Consumer products vs. industrial/government . 9
7 Data content . 9
7.1 Introduction . 9
7.2 System data elements . .10
7.3 Tag structure .10
7.4 Protocol control (PC) bits .12
7.5 Data elements .13
7.6 Traceability .14
7.7 Unique item serialization .14
8 Data security .14
8.1 Confidentiality .14
8.2 Data integrity .14
8.3 Interrogator authentication .14
8.4 Non-repudiation/audit trail .14
8.5 Product authentication/anti-counterfeiting .14
9 Identification of RFID labelled material .15
10 Backup in case of RF tag failure .15
10.1 Human readable interpretation .15
10.2 Human readable translation .15
10.3 Data titles .15
10.4 Backup .15
11 Tag operation .16
11.1 Data protocol .16
11.2 Minimum performance requirements (range and rate) .16
11.3 Environmental considerations .17
11.4 Tag orientation .18
11.5 Packaging material .18
11.6 Shock loads and abrasions .18
11.7 Tag lifetime .18
11.8 Minimum system reliability .18
11.9 Air interface .18
11.10 Memory requirements for application .18
11.11 Sensor interface, if applicable .18
11.12 Real time clock option .19
11.13 Safety and regulatory considerations.19
11.14 Non-observable data .19
11.15 Tag recyclability .19
11.16 Tag reusability .19
12 Tag location and presentation .19
12.1 Material on which the tag is mounted or inserted .20
12.2 Geometry of the package/tag environment .20
13 Interrogator and reader requirements.20
13.1 Safety and regulatory considerations.20
13.2 Data privacy .20
14 Interoperability, compatibility and non-interference with other RF systems .20
Annex A (informative) Table of useful data elements for product life cycle management .21
Annex B (normative) Encoding .22
Bibliography .32
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 17366 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 122, Packaging.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 17366:2009), which has been
technically revised.
This International Standard has two annexes; Annex A provides informative information, and Annex B
provides normative information.
Introduction
The ‘Supply chain’ is a multi-level concept that covers all aspects of taking a product from raw materials
to a final product including shipping to a final place of sale, use and maintenance, and potentially
disposal. Each of these levels covers many aspects of dealing with products and the business process for
each level is both unique and overlapping with other levels.
This International Standard has been created in order to ensure compatibility at the physical, command
and data levels with the four other International Standards under the general title Supply chain applications
of RFID. Where possible, this compatibility takes the form of interchangeability. Where interchangeability
is not feasible, the International Standards within this suite are interoperable and non-interfering. The
International Standards within the complete series of Supply chain applications of RFID include
— ISO 17363, Supply chain applications of RFID — Freight containers;
— ISO 17364, Supply chain applications of RFID — Returnable transport items (RTIs) and returnable
packaging items (RPIs);
— ISO 17365, Supply chain applications of RFID — Transport units;
— ISO 17366, Supply chain applications of RFID — Product packaging;
— ISO 17367, Supply chain applications of RFID — Product tagging.
These International Standards define the technical aspects and data hierarchy of information required
in each layer of the supply chain. The air-interface and communications protocol standards supported
within the Supply chain applications of RFID International Standards are ISO/IEC 18000; commands and
messages are specified by ISO/IEC 15961 and ISO/IEC 15962; semantics are defined in ISO/IEC 15418;
syntax is defined in ISO/IEC 15434.
Although not pertinent to this International Standard, the following work is considered valuable:
— ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques, in
the areas of air interface, data semantic and syntax construction and conformance standards, and
— ISO/TC 104, Freight containers, in the area of freight container security, including electronic seals
(e-seals) (i.e. ISO 18185) and container identification
vi © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 17366:2013(E)
Supply chain applications of RFID — Product packaging
1 Scope
This International Standard defines the basic features of RFID for use in the supply chain when applied
to product packaging. In particular it
— provides specifications for the identification of the product packaging,
— makes recommendations about additional information on the RF tag,
— specifies the semantics and data syntax to be used,
— specifies the data protocol to be used to interface with business applications and the RFID system,
— specifies the minimum performance requirements,
— specifies the air interface standards between the RF interrogator and RF tag, and
— specifies the reuse and recyclability of the RF tag.
2 Conformance and performance specifications
All of the devices and equipment that claim conformance with this International Standard shall also
conform to the appropriate sections and parameters specified in ISO/IEC 18046 for performance, and
ISO/IEC 18047-6 (for ISO/IEC 18000-63, Type C) and ISO/IEC/TR 18047-3 (for the ASK interface of
ISO/IEC 18000-3, Mode 3) for conformance.
3 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 445, Pallets for materials handling — Vocabulary
ISO 830, Freight containers — Vocabulary
ISO 8601, Data elements and interchange formats — Information interchange — Representation of
dates and times
ISO/IEC IEEE 8802-15-4, Information technology — Telecommunications and information exchange
between systems — Local and metropolitan area networks — Specific requirements Part 15.4: Wireless
Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications for Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area
Networks (WPANs)
ISO/IEC 15418, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — GS1
Application Identifiers and ASC MH10 Data Identifiers and maintenance
ISO/IEC 15434, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Syntax
for high-capacity ADC media
ISO/IEC 15459-4, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques —
Unique identification — Part 4: Individual products and product packages
ISO/IEC 15961, Information technology — Radio frequency identification (RFID) for item management —
Data protocol: application interface
ISO/IEC 15962, Information technology — Radio frequency identification (RFID) for item management —
Data protocol: data encoding rules and logical memory functions
ISO/IEC 15963, Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management — Unique
identification for RF tags
ISO/IEC 16022, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Data
Matrix bar code symbology specification
ISO 17364:2013, Supply chain applications of RFID — Returnable transport items (RTIs) and Returnable
packaging items (RPIs)
ISO/IEC 18000-3, Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management — Part 3:
Parameters for air interface communications at 13,56 MHz
ISO/IEC 18000-63, Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management —
Part 63: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz Type C
ISO/IEC 18004, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — QR
Code 2005 bar code symbology specification
ISO/IEC 18046 (all parts), Information technology — Radio frequency identification device performance
test methods
ISO/IEC/TR 18047-3, Information technology — Radio frequency identification device conformance test
methods — Part 3: Test methods for air interface communications at 13,56 MHz
ISO/IEC 18047-6, Information technology — Radio frequency identification device conformance test
methods — Part 6: Test methods for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz
ISO/IEC 19762 (all parts), Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC)
techniques — Harmonized vocabulary
ISO 21067, Packaging — Vocabulary
ISO/IEC/IEEE 21451-7, Information technology — Smart transducer interface for sensors and actuators —
Part 7: Transducer to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems communication protocols and Transducer
Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) formats
ISO/IEC/TR 24729-1, Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management —
Implementation guidelines — Part 1: RFID-enabled labels and packaging supporting ISO/IEC 18000-6C
ANS MH10.8.2, Data Identifiers and Application Identifiers
GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard, Version 1.6
GS1 General Specifications
ICNIRP Guidelines, Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic
fields (up to 300 GHz)
IEEE C95-1, IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency
Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 445, ISO 830, ISO 17364,
ISO/IEC 19762 (all parts), and ISO 21067 apply.
2 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

For the purposes of this document, hexadecimal characters are represented as 0xnn, where “nn” is the
hexadecimal value.
5 Concepts
5.1 Differentiation between this layer and the preceding layers
Figures 1 and 2 give a graphical representation of supply chain layers. They show a conceptual model
of possible supply chain relationships, not a one-for-one representation of physical things. Although
several layers in Figure 2 have clear physical counterparts, some common supply chain physical items
fit in several layers depending on the use case. For example, as shown in Figure 2, a repetitively used
pallet under constant ownership would be covered by ISO 17364 as an RTI; a pallet that is part of a
consolidated unit load would be covered by ISO 17365 as a transport unit, and a pallet that is integral to
a single item would be covered by this International Standard as product packaging.
The term “supply chain layers” is a multi-level concept that covers all aspects of taking a product from
raw materials to a final product to shipping to a final place of sale, use, maintenance and potentially
disposal and returned goods. Each of these levels covers many aspects of dealing with products and the
business process for each level is both unique and overlapping with other levels.
The Item Level through Freight Container Level layers are addressed within the suite of standards for
“supply chain applications of RFID” and are intended to enhance supply chain visibility. The Movement
Vehicle Level is the purview of ISO/TC 204/WG 7.
The Product Packaging Level in Figure 2, and specifically product packaging, (as defined in
ISO 17364:2013, 4.2) is the subject of this International Standard.
Product packaging layer tags can be distinguished from following or preceding layer tags by use of a
group select methodology contained in the RFID interrogator/reader. This group select function allows
the interrogator and supporting automated information systems (AIS) to quickly identify Product
Packaging Level tags.
Key
1 primary packaging — consumer packaging — (product)
2 secondary packaging — outer packaging — (product package)
3 tertiary packaging — transport packaging — (transport unit)
4 tertiary packaging — unitized transport packaging — (transport unit)
5 pallet — (returnable transport item — RTI)
Figure 1 — Packaging
4 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Layer 5
Movement Vehicle
Movement Vehicle Level
(truck, ship, train, airplane)
Defined by Transport Mode
(Movement vehicle)
Returnable Packaging Item
Layer 4
Freight Container Level
ISO 17363
Container
433 MHz or 2,45 GHz
20/40 Foot Marine and Multi-Modal Container
(8802-15-4 or 18000-7 TPA)
(Freight containers)
Returnable Packaging Item
Layer 3
RTI Level
Returnable Transport Returnable Transport
ISO 17364
Item (RTI) Item (RTI)
(860-960 MHz)
(Various 18000 with TPA)
(Tertiary packaging)
Returnable Packaging Item
Layer 2
Transport Unit Level
Transport Transport
Transport Transport
Unit
ISO 17365 Unit
Unit Unit
(Various 18000 with TPA)
(Tertiary packaging)
Returnable Packaging Item
Layer 1
Product Package Level
Prod Prod Prod Prod
ISO 17366 Prod Prod Prod Prod
Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg
(860-960 MHz with TPA) Pkg
(13,56 MHz with TPA)
(Secondary packaging)
Returnable Packaging Item
Layer 0
Item Level
ISO 17367
Item Item Item Item
Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item
(860-960 MHz with TPA)
(13,56 MHz with TPA)
(Primary packaging)
Components, Parts, Materials, Subassemblies, etc.
Figure 2 — Supply chain layers
5.2 Returnable packaging item
At all layers within the supply chain are materials that are shipped to a customer with full expectation
that such devices will be returned to the supplier. These returnable packaging items (RPIs) are assets
of value as well as potentially the physical product packaging. RPIs and their identification are well
addressed in Annex A of ISO/IEC 17364:2013, and Annex A of ISO/IEC 17365:2013.
5.3 Unique item identifier
5.3.1 General
Unique product packaging identification is a process that assigns a unique data string to an individual
package, or in this case to an RFID tag that is associated to the product package. The unique data string
is called the unique product package identifier. Unique item identification of product packaging allows
data collection and management at a granular level. The benefits of granular level data are evident in
such areas as maintenance, warranties and enabling electronic transactions of record. This granularity
is possible only if each tagged item has a unique item identifier.
Product package layer tagging can uniquely identify products, thus providing differentiation between
like and unlike product packages. Product package layer tagging can also be used to identify product
packages by differentiating unlike product packages but not differentiating between like product
packages. This is used for commodities where individualization is impractical or undesirable.
The unique product packaging identifier described above shall be the unique identifier as described in
ISO/IEC 15459-4. The unique item identifier (UII) provides granular discrimination between like items
that are identified with RFID tags. The unique tag ID (as defined by ISO/IEC 15963) is a mechanism
to uniquely identify RFID tags and is not the unique product packaging identifier defined in this
International Standard.
The minimum data elements required for unique identification are an enterprise identifier and a serial
number that is unique within that enterprise identifier. Commonly, a part or model number is also
required to achieve unique identification.
This International Standard uses the following identification mechanisms for unique product package
identification:
— unique identifiers for supply chain items (ISO/IEC 15459-4);
— GS1 Serialized Global Trade Item Number (SGTIN).
5.3.2 International unique identification for items
The unique identifier of ISO/IEC 15459 provides identification schemes for various layers of the
supply chain, from the Item Level (products) up to the RTI Level (returnable transport items). The
unique identification of product packages shall use ISO/IEC 15459-4. Unique identification is provided
contextually by three components:
a) issuing agency code (IAC),
b) company identification number (CIN),
c) serial number (SN),
preceded by an AFI and Data Identifier (DI). The AFI code assignments table in ISO/IEC 15961-3, Data
Constructs Register and shown below in Table 1 permits identification of the supply chain layer, i.e.
product = 0xA1, transport unit = 0xA2 returnable transport item = 0xA3, and product package = 0xA5.
,
The Data Identifier shall be “25S”. The ISO/IEC 15459 registration authority assigns the IAC. The CIN
is assigned by the issuing agency. The company registered with the issuing agency assigns the serial
number. The serial number shall be no longer than 20 alphanumeric characters.
Table 1 — 1736x AFI Assignments
AFI Assigned organization or function
0xA1 ISO 17367 product tagging
0xA2 ISO 17365 transport unit
0xA3 ISO 17364 returnable transport item or returnable packaging items
0xA4 ISO 17367 product tagging, containing hazardous materials
0xA5 ISO 17366 product packaging
0xA6 ISO 17366 product packaging, containing hazardous materials
0xA7 ISO 17365 transport unit, containing hazardous materials
0xA8 ISO 17364 returnable transport item or returnable packaging item, containing hazardous materials
0xA9 ISO 17363 freight containers
0xAA ISO 17363 freight containers, containing hazardous materials
EPC does not use AFIs; consequently, there are no AFIs used for RTIs employed in retail applications
using EPC. AFI 0xA5 may be used for product packages intended solely for commodities other than
consumer goods. Annex B provides an in-depth discussion of the ISO approach to encoding.
To define its class (in the ISO/IEC 15459 sense), the unique identifier shall have an associated class
identifier, which is the Data Identifier “25S”. For the purposes of this International Standard, a unique
identifier of product packages should be no longer than 35 alphanumeric characters, excluding the Data
6 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Identifier (an3+an.35). See Table 2. With the mutual agreement of the trading partners this length can
be extended to 50 characters (an3+an.50).
Table 2 — ISO UII element string
Format of the license plate
Data Identifier IAC, company identification number (CIN), serial number
25S N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N . . . N
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 35
5.3.3 Serialized global trade identification number (SGTIN)
The GS1 EPC serialized global trade identification number (SGTIN-96) is a unique item identifier (UII)
capable of providing unique item identification of product packages.
Table 3 — SGTIN-96 element string
Header Filter Value Partition Company Prefix Item Reference Serial Number
Number of
8 3 3 20 to 40 24 to 4 38
bits
999 999 to
a b b c d
Reference 0011 0000 — — 9 999 999 to 9 274 877 906 943
c
999 999 999 999
NOTE Maximum decimal value range of Company Prefix and Item Reference fields vary according to the con-
tents of the partition field.
a
Binary value.
b
Refer to GS1 EPC, Tag Data Standard, Version 1.6 for values.
c
Maximum decimal range.
d
Maximum decimal value.
The SGTIN consists of the following information elements:
a) The Header, which is defined in the GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard, Version 1.6. It is eight (8) bits long
and for an SGTIN-96 is the value 0x30. While the remainder of the document describes an SGTIN-96 the
GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard also describes a longer version.
b) The Filter Value, which is defined in the GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard Version 1.6. It is three (3) bits long
and identifies whether an EPC is for a retail trade item, a standard trade item grouping, or a single
shipping/consumer trade item.
c) The Partition, defined in the GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard Version 1.6. It is three (3) bits long, carries
one of seven (7) values, and identifies where the subsequent Company Prefix and Item Reference
numbers are divided.
d) The Company Prefix, assigned by GS1 to an organization. The Company Prefix is the same as the
Company Prefix digits within a GS1 GTIN decimal code. The combined Company Prefix and Item
Reference are 44 bits long (13 decimal digits).
e) The Item Reference, assigned by the “Company” entity to a particular product package. The combined
Company Prefix and Item Reference are 44 bits long (13 decimal digits).
f) The Serial Number assigned by the managing entity to an individual object. The EPC representation
is only capable of representing a subset of Serial Numbers allowed in the GS1 General Specifications.
Specifically, only those Serial Numbers consisting of one or more digits, with no leading zeros, are
permitted. The length of the Serial Number is 38 bits.
5.4 Other identification requirements
This International Standard does not supersede or replace any applicable safety or regulatory marking
or labelling requirements.
This International Standard is meant to satisfy the minimum product package identification
requirements of numerous applications and industry groups. As such, its applicability is to a wide range
of industries, each of which may have specific implementation guidelines for this International Standard.
This International Standard is to be applied in addition to any other mandated labelling requirements.
6 Differentiation within this layer
6.1 Business processes
Business processes such as those described below are illustrative of the applications envisioned by this
International Standard.
Acquisition: ordering, including the identification of relevant specifications and requirements, can
be facilitated by referencing the item’s original acquisition data using the RFID tag’s unique ID as a
database key.
Shipping: where items can have different configurations or capabilities, such as with computer
software loads that differentiate items with otherwise identical form, fit and function, such items
can be issued and shipped with the tag read providing assurance that the correct item was shipped.
This level of non-intrusive tracking and tracing can serve as a front end to higher level in-transit
visibility RFID applications detailed in the other standards of this series.
Receiving: non-intrusive collection of receipt data can shorten data collection times, in support of
automated inventory management systems and provide an electronic transaction of record much
earlier in the process. Earlier knowledge of on-hand inventory can reduce stock outs and the need
for expedited premium transportation.
Cross docking: in addition to recording inbound receipts and outbound shipments, tagged items can be
sorted. Many items will have exterior marking (tagging) that are used in lieu of reading the product tag.
Work in process: used to track individual components and the final assembly (bill of material) and
to monitor any item through a fabrication or manufacturing process.
— Maintenance: related to work in progress and differentiated in that it covers functions prior to and
subsequent to the actual work. This includes fault analysis, identification, preparation of packing
and packaging.
— Inventory control: item level serialization yields a granularity of visibility that supports the
management of individual items. This allows data collection, tracking and tracing of individual
items and selection at point of issue.
— Disposal: identification of items that have recycling or other disposal requirements.
— Picking and put-away: selection of items from a package or transport unit prior to placement into
shelf stock in a warehouse situation or other storage situation where a specific asset is desired or
knowledge of the specific item selected is required for issue.
— Pick and place: selection of items from shelf stock in a warehouse situation or other storage situation
where a specific asset is desired or knowledge of the specific item selected is required incident to the
placement of the item into or onto another asset incident to a manufacturing or assembly process.
— Sortation: process that places individual items into groups based upon some selection criteria, often
performed at speed.
8 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

— Identification: process that is an inherent part of each of the functions set out above. It allows the
positive differentiation of an item consistent with the business process in use. Identification can
be at the discrete item level for serialized products or by commodity for non-serialized products.
Identification is often the underlying base process that enables the other uses of the tag.
— Network topology: can be used to identify discrete nodes or locations on a network.
— Configuration management: discrete identification of the individual component items that comprise a
higher assembly. This component data can be tiered to cover each of the multiple levels of configuration
(e.g. the circuit board inside the radio installed in the communications suite of an aircraft).
The multitude of different business processes circumscribed by the supply chain will employ distinctly
different groupings of functions and processes outlined above. The reading, writing or erasing of data
to/from a tag is intended to effect identification and data capture about the product and the process
involved, and shall be integrated into business processes as required by the business process owner.
6.2 Lot/batch vs. serial number vs. product identification only
Just as different business processes have varying data requirements, different items will have varying
identification requirements. Use of structured or intelligent serialization schemes include additional
data such as part number or lot number in the serialization scheme and should be avoided whenever
possible. This means ideally that the serialization is unique within the enterprise.
The lowest level of identification would be product ID only. Lot and batch type items shall be marked
with the product ID of the item and the lot or batch of that item to which this particular item belongs.
Serialized items shall be marked with a unique serial number in conformance with the appropriate part
of ISO/IEC 15459, which details the differing methods of serialization that provide unique identification.
Medicines are typical of the type of item that is manufactured and managed at the lot level but sold and
used at the item level. Thus, a particular dosage of medicine will require unique identification of that
dose and the ability to reference that back to the original manufacturing lot. Looking up associated
information on the information system may accomplish this reference.
6.3 Consumer products vs. industrial/government
Personal privacy considerations present a unique set of considerations for consumer products as
opposed to products that remain exclusively in the industrial/government sectors. Consumer privacy
regulations shall be considered in the design and operation of every consumer level product-packaging
scenario. Encryption and data security are addressed in Clause 8.
7 Data content
7.1 Introduction
Sublauses 7.2 to 7.7 describe the data content of RFID tags for the product package layer. They identify,
amongst other things,
— the data elements that shall or may be present on the tag,
— the way in which the data elements are identified (semantics),
— the representation of data elements in tag memory, and
— the placement of data elements in the memory of the tag.
7.2 System data elements
7.2.1 Unique product package identification
The first data element on a compliant tag shall be the unique identification described in ISO/IEC 15459-4.
The length and nature of this unique identification is defined in this data element. For an ISO/IEC 18000-63,
Type C and ISO/IEC 18000-3, Mode 3 compliant tag, the “unique identification” data element is segregated
from any additional (user data) by the memory architecture. The unique identification data element
shall be stored in UII memory (Bank 01), with any additional data being stored in user memory (Bank
11). For the purposes of this International Standard, a unique identifier of product packages can be up to
35 alphanumeric characters in length, excluding the Data Identifier (an3+an.35).
With the mutual agreement of the trading partners this length can be extended to 50 characters
(an3+an.50). Annex B provides an in depth analysis of encoding.
7.2.2 Data semantics
Tags that only encode the unique product identity should conform to ISO/IEC 15961. This data structure
will conform to Annex C. Tags containing complex data structures or larger data sets shall include
semantics that conform to ISO/IEC 15418 and Annex B of this International Standard.
7.2.3 Data syntax
Tags that encode identity only are considered to have no syntax. Tags containing complex data structures
or larger data sets shall conform to Annex B of this International Standard.
7.2.4 Tag character set
Tags using Data Identifiers shall employ characters from the character set 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, [, \, ], :, ;, <, =, >, ?, @, (, ), *, +, -, ., /, , ,
, , , and Space, as shown in Table B.1.
7.3 Tag structure
7.3.1 Unique product package identifiers
Memory Bank “01” of a product package shall contain either an ISO/IEC defined AFI or an EPC GS1
defined EPC. The ISO/IEC 15961, AFI for product package is 0xA2, in bits 0x18 – 0x1F as described
in Tables 1 and 4. Support for ISO standards (including AFIs) is indicated when bit 0x17 is set to “1”.
Alternatively, support for GS1 EPC coding is indicated when bit 0x17 is set to “0” as described in the GS1
EPC Tag Data Standard.
NOTE A 96-bit SGTIN is represented by EPC header 0x30.
7.3.2 Tag memory
Figure 3 provides a graphical representation of tag memory.
10 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

MSB LSB
•  DSFID
Precursor, [OID], length,
•
Object
Extended DSFID [7:0]
10 1F <
Add’l Access Methods,
DSFID [7:0] sensors, battery-assist
00 0F
• See ISO/IEC 15961
Binary
Memory Bank
and ISO/IEC 15962
MSB LSB
Bank
• MDID
USER
• Tag model number
Bank
• Serial number
TID
10 TID [15:0] 1F
• Burned in or written
00 TID [31:16] 0F
and permalocked by
Bank
UII
IC manufacturer
MSB LSB
Bank
RESERVED
220 22F
Optional XPC_W2 [15:0]
210 21F
Optional XPC_W1 [15:0]
UII [15:0]
Memory Bank is definedy
as follows
• UII (must be ISO or EPC)
Binary
UII [N:N-15]
20 2F
00 Reserved
PC (Protocol Control) bits,
10 StoredPC [15:0] 1F •
01 UII
including UII length indicator
00 StoredCRC-16 [15:0] 0F • CRC confirms content of
10 TID
UII memory
11 User
MSB LSB
• Contains all write lock
and kill passwords
30 Access Password [15:0] 3F
20 Access Password [31:16] 2F
10 Kill Password [15:0] 1F
00 Kill Password [31:16] 0F
Memory Locations
To The Left and Right of
Expanded Memory Locations
Shown As Hexadecimal
Figure 3 — Segmented memory map
7.3.3 Tag memory banks
Tag memory shall be logically separated into four distinct banks, each of which may comprise one or
more memory words. A logical memory map is given in Figure 2. The memory banks are as follows.
a) Reserved memory (MB00): shall contain the kill and access passwords. The kill password shall
be stored at memory addresses 0x00 to 0x1F; the access password shall be stored at memory
addresses 0x20 to 0x3F. If a tag does not im
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