31 December 2026 is an important deadline for suppliers to Dutch food and drugstore retailers. Are your packaging data and product information ready for publication through GS1?
Packaging data is becoming an increasingly important part of product information management. For suppliers operating in the Dutch food and drugstore sectors, new GS1 sector agreements are making accurate and complete packaging information more important than ever.
Under these agreements, packaging data for products with new or changed GTINs in 2026 must be published through GS1 Data Source/GDSN by 31 December 2026.
For many suppliers, this creates a challenge that goes beyond simply collecting packaging information.
Product information is rarely managed in one single system.
While commercial and logistical product data may be available in an ERP or PIM system, packaging specifications are often maintained elsewhere.
Information may be spread across:
Bringing this information together, structuring it correctly and preparing it for publication according to GS1 requirements can be a time-consuming process.
And simply connecting an existing system to a GS1 datapool does not automatically solve these challenges.
To meet the applicable GS1 packaging data requirements, suppliers should review both the availability and quality of their packaging information.
This includes:
1. Identifying missing packaging attributes
Determine which packaging attributes are required and whether the relevant information is already available in existing systems.
2. Structuring data according to GS1 requirements
Translate internal product attributes, values and classifications into the appropriate GS1 data structures.
3. Validating product information
Check product data against relevant GS1 validation rules before submitting it for publication.
4. Maintaining consistency across systems
Ensure packaging information remains aligned with product data in ERP, PIM and other internal systems.
5. Preparing for ongoing maintenance
Establish a process for updating packaging information when products, packaging specifications or GS1 requirements change.
Qmica – The GS1 Connector helps organisations bridge the gap between their existing product information systems and GS1 data networks.
Rather than requiring companies to rebuild their ERP or PIM environments around GS1 data structures, Qmica provides a dedicated transformation, validation and publication layer.
Connect
Import existing product information from ERP, PIM, Excel or other supported data sources.
Transform
Map internal attributes and values to the appropriate GS1 data model. Configured mappings can be reused to reduce repetitive manual work.
Validate
Identify missing mandatory information, incorrect values and other validation issues before publication.
Publish
Register and publish validated product information through supported GS1 datapools and data networks.
Maintain
Keep product data aligned with changing GS1 requirements and maintain consistent information across supported markets.
Although the current deadline focuses on Dutch sector requirements, the underlying challenge is much broader.
Packaging information is becoming increasingly relevant for regulatory compliance, sustainability reporting, international data exchange and retailer-specific requirements.
For organisations operating across multiple markets, maintaining accurate packaging information will therefore become an ongoing responsibility.
The most effective approach is not to treat packaging data as a one-time year-end project.
It is to integrate packaging information into the everyday product data management process.
Whether you are preparing for the December 2026 deadline or looking to improve your existing GS1 publication process, Qmica can help you identify data gaps, structure product information and prepare your data for publication.
Already have product data available in your ERP, PIM or Excel files?
Discover how Qmica can help you turn that information into GS1-ready product data.
Contact Qmica to discuss your packaging data requirements.
Getting your product data ready for GS1 is an important milestone. Keeping it aligned with changing requirements is an ongoing process. As data models, validation rules and market requirements evolve, brands need a reliable way to maintain the product information they share.
Discover how Qmica partners with PIM vendors and system integrators to simplify GS1 data transformation, validation and publication.
Qmica is working with Intratuin to help suppliers get their product data GS1-ready. With practical guidance and a special offer — complete onboarding free of charge and the first two months of Qmica at no cost — we are making the transition to GS1 easier.