Overview - EN ISO 10685-1:2011 (Ophthalmic optics, product identification)
EN ISO 10685-1:2011 (ISO 10685-1:2011) specifies rules for uniquely identifying spectacle frames and sunglass frames and defines the data and file formats used in an electronic product catalogue. The standard requires use of a 14‑digit Global Trade Item Number (GTIN-14) for frame identification, defines the GTIN structure (indicator digit, country code, brand/company prefix and product code), and addresses catalogue identification, barcode marking and data exchange (including XML examples in annexes). It is applicable to sunglass clip‑ons and is published by CEN as a European adoption of the ISO text.
Key topics and technical requirements
- GTIN-14 identifier: mandatory 14‑digit format; databases should manage a 14‑digit field.
- Indicator digit: set to 0 for this part of ISO 10685.
- Country code: corresponds to the GS1 regional organisation of the brand/license owner.
- Brand/license owner (company prefix): allocated by GS1 regional organisation.
- Product code: assigned by the brand/license owner.
- Rules of application:
- A unique GTIN-14 is required whenever any basic characteristic of a frame changes.
- Basic characteristics for spectacle frames: Brand, Collection, Model, Colour, a‑size, d‑size, l‑size.
- For sunglass frames the basic set includes the above plus Lens attributes.
- Brand/license owner is responsible for allocating GTIN‑14; re‑use of an assigned GTIN‑14 is prohibited.
- Ownership and transfer rules:
- Guidance on acquisitions, mergers and partial purchases - how GTINs may be retained, changed or phased out, and obligations during transition.
- Data exchange and marking:
- Identification data fields for an electronic frame catalogue, barcode marking guidance, normative field descriptions, XML schema and sample.
Practical applications - who uses it and why
- Frame manufacturers, brand owners, importers, wholesalers and retailers use the standard to:
- Ensure unambiguous product identification across supply chains and e‑catalogues.
- Manage inventory, ordering, logistics and barcode labelling consistently.
- E‑commerce platforms, catalogue providers and ERP/WMS developers implement GTIN‑14 and the XML schema to enable automated product feeds, search, filtering and interoperability.
- Supply chain and GS1 implementers use the rules to align eyewear product data with global identification and barcode systems.
Related standards
- ISO 10685 series: Part 2 (Commercial information) and Part 3 (Technical information).
- Referenced documents: ISO 4217, ISO 8624, and ISO 12870.
- GS1 standards (GTIN) for global trade item identification and barcode encoding.
Keywords: EN ISO 10685-1:2011, ophthalmic optics, spectacle frames identification, sunglass frames, GTIN-14, electronic catalogue, eyewear product hierarchy, GS1, barcode, XML catalogue.
