An Electronic Product Code (EPC) is a standardized identifier for a physical object, such as a serialized trade item, an asset or a location. It is not an RFID tag: the EPC identifies the object, while RFID is one way to carry and capture that identifier.
What is an Electronic Product Code?
GS1 defines EPC as “an identification scheme for universally identifying physical objects (e.g., trade items, assets and locations) via RFID tags and other data capture techniques.” The definition appears on its page What is an Electronic Product Code (EPC)?, modified 30 May 2025.
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In use, an EPC lets information systems refer to an identified object. The code may be encoded in a form suitable for a tag or represented as text for sharing between enterprise systems. RFID is a common capture method, but the identifier and the technology used to carry or capture it are separate concepts.
How is an EPC different from an RFID tag?
An EPC is identification data; an RFID tag is a physical data carrier that can store that data and communicate it to a reader. A reader captures the tag’s contents over radio. Calling an EPC “an RFID tag” mixes the identifier with the hardware that may carry it.
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GS1’s explanation of EPC/RFID architecture describes EPCs in both binary forms for RFID tags and text-based forms for data exchange, including EPC URIs and class or pattern forms. Thus, an EPC does not have to be read from an RFID tag in every application.
How does an EPC differ from a GTIN?
A GTIN identifies a trade item class, such as a particular product type. A serialized EPC can identify an individual instance of that type. For example, a GTIN can identify a model of an item, while an EPC that combines the relevant GS1 key with a serial component can distinguish one physical unit from another.
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This distinction matters for inventory and traceability: identifying a product type answers “which kind?”; identifying a serialized instance can answer “which particular unit?” GS1 explains the relationship in its EPC overview and related explanation of EPC and serialized identification.
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The GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard (TDS) defines EPC formats and how they correspond to GS1 keys and other codes. It also specifies data carried on EPC-encoded RAIN RFID tags. The standard is the appropriate reference for technical format and encoding details; consult its current published edition before implementing an encoding, since instructions can depend on the relevant format and version.
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See GS1’s EPC Tag Data Standard for the standard and its current materials.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is required to use an EPC?
The requirements depend on how an organization represents, stores and captures the identifier. Understanding the term itself does not require RFID equipment. For a physical RFID implementation, the tag, reader, radio frequency and air-interface protocol must be compatible; not every tag and reader combination will work together.
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- For system-to-system exchange: use an appropriate text or URI representation and ensure the participating systems interpret it consistently.
- For RFID capture: choose tags and readers that support the required frequency and air-interface protocol, then follow the relevant GS1 encoding standard.
- For item-level identification: use a serialized identifier when the application needs to distinguish individual instances, rather than relying only on a product-class identifier.
GS1’s EPC/RFID architecture framework provides implementation context. A tag does not itself create or register an EPC; the identifier and the organization’s data practices must be established separately.
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