All cases should be of adequate strength to protect the retail package during warehousing and shipping.
Cases are to be sized and packed to prevent undue movement that might scuff or damage product, labels, containers, or closures.
Dividers are to be utilized if required for stacking strength or to reduce container-to-container contact.
Pallet patterns must be designed to provide stability and to prevent damage to product during shipment.
The supplier is responsible for developing stable case and pallet footprints and will take precautions necessary to minimize movement of product during shipment.
All cases must display the following:
Case UPC/Barcode – a barcode must be scan readable from a minimum of four (4) feet away.
The only approved GTIN -14 barcode fonts are GS1-128 (previously referred to as UCC/EAN-128 or EAN-128) and ITF-14 (also known as Interleaved 2 of 5 or ITF).
Product UPC
Product name (Brand and Varietal copy)
Pack Count and Size
Best Before date
All legally-required markings (Country of Origin, Federal inspection emblems, Est. No., etc.) must be placed on cases and trays.
Country of Origin labeling must comply with the laws of the destination country (US or Canada), as well as any applicable laws of the country of
origin and any countries across which the product will be transshipped, and must address all covered commodities and imported items.
The shipping case must be printed with the same date code and distribution clause as the retail package.
Items that use a closed code on the retail package instead of a “Best Before” date must include the best before date on the outside of the case (e.g. BB NOV 01 09 + closed code).
The “Best Before” date will be utilized for warehouse stock rotation.
The code print type must be at least 1/2” (1.25 cm) high and legible so as to be easily visible in a warehouse environment (4 feet from product).
Pre-printed or print-on-line pressure-sensitive labels may be applied in lieu of direct ink application.
Any applied label must meet content, positioning, and legibility requirements set forth in this standard.
