Product images available via GS1 GDSN
Since 01/05/2021, a product image in accordance with the GS1 guidelines is expected for each product sheet exchanged via the GS1 GDSN network.
This request from retailers applies both to product sheets created directly in My Product Manager and to product sheets registered in a GS1 GDSN datapool and published for the Belgium-Luxembourg target markets.
Interim measures apply to images of existing products to allow everyone to produce a compliant product image within a realistic timeframe.
New regulation and latest guidlines
New regulation in force
As of May 1st 2021, retailers expect to receive at least one product image for each item shared via GS1 GDSN. For products that are new to the market, images must comply with the GS1 guidelines updated in October 2020. Existing products can comply with the previous version of the guidelines until January 1st 2023.
Guidelines for digital assets
The GS1 guidelines for digital assets state which other digital assets companies can share with each other and which attributes are used for this. Are you curious how to add a Safety Data Sheet, DOP or simply a video to your product sheet? Take a look at our guidelines.
FAQ
Here you will find answers to the questions most frequently asked to our helpdesk. This section is updated frequently to include the questions we receive, so that you can easily find the answer to your question.
GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg and GS1 Nederlands have a shared manual which states the specifications with which product images must comply.
The manual is based on the most recent version of GS1’s international product images standard. This standard defines, in particular, the file format, size (pixels), aspect ratio (width/height ratio) and naming convention.
The manual applies to the FMCG & Food service and DIY, Garden and Pet sectors throughout Benelux.
The pandemic caused a massive surge in online selling, including consumer items sold in traditional supermarkets. Consumers are less inclined to buy products without images. That's why a pack shot is essential.
Currently, product images are shared via different channels between trading partners. Specifications with which images must comply are also often set unilaterally.
This new regulation is designed to use one single channel to share all product images which must satisfy identical specifications. Different retailers in Belgium and Luxembourg who receive product data sheets via My Product Manager and/or a GS1 GDSN data pool are committed to processing them.
You should provide at least one image with your product data sheet. You can choose to photograph the product packaged or unpackaged, straight on, from the front or from an angle (from the left or the right).
We provide these different options as for certain products, it makes more sense to capture them at an angle rather than straight on, just as it is sometimes preferable to photograph a product unpackaged than packaged. You are in a better position to decide than we are.
Below are some examples to make it clearer:
|
(GTIN)_C1L1 |
(GTIN)_C1C1 |
(GTIN)_C1R1 |
| Product image /Front-facing /Left/ packaged | Product image /Front-facing /Front/ packaged | Product image /Front-facing /Right/ packaged |
|
(GTIN)_C1L0 |
(GTIN)_C1C0 |
(GTIN)_C1R0 |
| Product image/ Side view / Left / Unpackaged | Product image/ Side view/ Front / Unpackaged | Product image/ Side view / Right / Unpackaged |
We therefore ask that you upload at least one image, although, the more images you provide, the better. It’s always a good idea to contact retailers and ask if they would like more images of your products. This enables you to upload everything to GS1 GDSN at the same time and save time, as there’s no need to use another channel.
As of May 1st 2021, retailers would like to receive at least one product image for each item via the data pool. This applies to both existing products and new products.
- Ensure that images you are taking of new products that you will be publishing from April 1st comply with the most recent guidelines (November 2020).
- Interim measures apply until January 1st 2023 to images of existing products to allow everyone to produce a compliant product image within a realistic timeframe.
Yes, both sectors use the same standard, but implementation is sector-based. For the FMCG & Food service sector, it is mandatory to include at least one pack shot with each product data sheet uploaded as of January 1st 2021.
Click here to learn more about implementation within the FMCG & Food service sector
Specialist photo studios are skilled in taking product photos.
You can provide the image specifications manual to a photo studio and ask them to create compliant product images.