Global Data Model – FAQ

A data model is another word for a standardised product sheet. Such a product sheet can be registered in My Product Manager Share and exchanged with trading partners via the GS1 Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN). 

GS1 Global administers more than 3,000 standardised attributes or product characteristics. Users can make a selection from these product characteristics which then together form a product sheet or data model. 

Data models can be drawn up by individual GS1 members. In various countries, however, an attempt is made to administer a data model at sector level via the local GS1 office (such as our office GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg). This is a sector agreement based on a consensus between various stakeholders who are each other's trading partners and competitors/colleagues.  

This is the standardised product sheet that is administered collectively by GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg and GS1 Netherlands and their respective members. 

The latest version of the current Benelux data model can be found here. 

The Benelux data model came into being in 2018 when the Belgian-Luxembourg data model was harmonised with the Dutch data model at the request of various stakeholders in the Benelux. This was done in order to simplify the exchange of product information within the Benelux market since many companies trade across country borders or even operate as Benelux organisation. 

The Global Data Model is an international standardised product sheet that is administered collectively by both GS1 Global and regional GS1 offices such as GS1 in Europe and by local GS1 offices such as GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg and GS1 members. 

The product sheet is made up, like an onion, of various layers. Each layer is a collection of attributes or standardised product characteristics that are administered by a different level. 

Global core: 

• Contains product characteristics that apply globally to all products 
• Is administered by the Global Maintenance Group 

Global category layer:

• Contains additional product characteristics that can be entered globally for one or more product categories 
• Is administered by the Global Maintenance Group 

Regional category layer:

• Contains additional product characteristics that can be entered regionally for one or more product categories. 
• Region is deemed to mean Europe, North America (US, Canada, Mexico) or Australasia (Australia, New Zealand). Since legislation differs within the regions, it is possible that certain product characteristics must be exchanged by law within the chain within one region and not in others. 
• There are thus various regional category layers. Whether they must be used or not depends on the regions with which you trade. If a company only trades in the EU, the European layer is sufficient. 
• Is administered by the Regional Maintenance Groups. For the European layer, this is the European Maintenance Group. 

Local layer:

• Contains supplementary product characteristics that must be additionally exchanged nationally. 
• The local level is generally deemed in most cases to refer to a country or target group. For us, however, this is Benelux, since no separate national data models are administered in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg and GS1 Netherlands administer one collective data model with their respective members. 
• The additional product characteristics are based on local legal requirements that are not transpositions of European legislation - since these are already covered in the European category layer - or local business requirements that deviate from those of other countries. The ambition is to make this layer as small as possible so that product information within Europe can be exchanged in as uniform a way as possible. 
• Is administered by the Benelux Maintenance Group.

All attributes or product characteristics that are present in the current Benelux data model are compared to the product characteristics of the global core, global category layer and European category layer of the Global Data Model. 

Product characteristics that appear in these layers and not in the current Benelux data model, must be entered additionally from 20/11/2021.  

In various countries, different fields are used for specific product characteristics. It is now stipulated globally or at European level which field is the only one that may be used. Consequently, on 20/11/202, certain fields will disappear and the values will have to be entered in new fields. 

The remaining product characteristics from the current Benelux data model that are not in the global core, global category layer or European category layer of the Global Data Model, are not automatically added to the local layer. Each product characteristic will be critically evaluated and should it emerge that it is not used within the chain, the decision will be taken to remove it from the Benelux product sheet. 

In the Benelux, this will take place in the 4th release of 2021 = 20/11/2021. 

Specifically this means that the wholesalers, supermarkets, food service providers or operators in the Benelux who receive product information via the GS1 Global Data Synchronisation Network shall, from that date, accept the new Benelux product sheet based on the Global Data Model. 

You should, however, know that each country can decide autonomously when they implement the Global Data Model. This consequently does not mean that you can, from that date, publish a product sheet you generate in the Benelux to all target markets within Europe. In any case, the local layer in all target markets shall continue to differ, even if those target markets have transitioned to the Global Data Model. 

The Consumer Goods Forum - a global network organisation of C-levels of manufacturers, retailers and food service providers who collaborate in the area of sustainability, health, safety, and also supply chain - had suggested to GS1 Global that the current method in which local data models are administered per country, is no longer sustainable since the demand for additional product information continues to increase. The current situation makes trade in various countries, whereby product information has to be entered in different product sheets, complex and consequently expensive and inefficient. 

By aligning the Benelux data model with the Global Data Model, GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg and GS1 Netherlands want to collaborate swiftly on the solution to this problem. 

A portion of the new Benelux standardised product sheet shall be usable globally and a far greater portion within Europe. 

The core, the global and regional category layers of the Global Data Model have been elaborated by an international work group of manufacturers and retailers who are active in a variety of target markets. Players in the Benelux have also been actively involved. 

You can find further details on the website of GS1 Global. 

The local Benelux layer has been developed by work groups in BELUX and NL, and these submitted their proposal to the Benelux Maintenance Group which administers the current Benelux data model. More information about its role and members can be found here. 

The current Benelux data model is administered collectively by GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg and GS1 Netherlands and their respective members. 

The specific body that administers the Benelux data model is the Benelux Maintenance Group. More information about its role and members can be found here. 

Once the Global Data Model is implemented, the Benelux Maintenance Group shall only administer the local layer. The European Maintenance Group shall administer the European category level and the Global Maintenance Group shall administer the global core and category layer. There are representatives of the Benelux Maintenance Group in both of the latter work groups. 

At the moment this is exclusively the FMCG sector. The Global Data Model covers FOOD (groceries) and NEAR-FOOD (pharmacy products: care and maintenance products). 

Since NON-FOOD is not at the moment within the scope, this means that the product sheet is currently not usable in, for example, the DIY, Garden and Animal Sector. This will be developed in the future.

Every country decides autonomously when it will transition to the Global Data Model. 

The first target markets that have committed to implementing this year are Germany, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Turkey, the US, Canada, Mexico and Colombia. 

At the moment, Benelux is the first to announce an implementation date. 

You should remember that each target market shall retain a different local layer and that differences shall continue to exist between the European target markets and those within other regions.