--- title: Abbreviated Serialization Terminology You Must Know description: New regulations and updated technologies in Serialization lead to changing jargon, abbreviations and terminology. A lot of them may be familiar because of --- +44 203 097 1597 [info@cosmotrace.com](mailto:info@cosmotrace.com) - - - - [![Cosmotrace](https://blog.cosmotrace.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/CosmoTrace_Oct2021/images/cosmotrace-2.png?width=630&height=209&name=cosmotrace-2.png "Cosmotrace")](https://www.cosmotrace.com/) - [Home](https://www.cosmotrace.com/) - [About Us](https://www.cosmotrace.com/about-us/) - [Careers](https://www.cosmotrace.com/pages/careers/) - [Services](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/) - Compliance Focused - [Misalignment Exceptions Management (US DSCSA)](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/misalignment-exceptions-management-us-dscsa/) - [EU Alert Management](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/eu-alert-management/) - [Middle East Serialization Consulting](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/middle-east-serialization-consulting/) - [China Reporting Services](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/china-reporting-services/) - Business Operations Focused - [Master Data Management](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/master-data-management/) - [Trade Partner Onboarding](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/trade-partner-onboarding/) - [Level 4 System Validation](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/level-4-system-validation/) - [Serialization System Health Check](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/serialization-system-health-check/) - Business Processes Outsourcing - [Managed Services CoE](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/managed-services-coe/) - [US DSCSA Ti Digitization](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/us-dscsa-ti-digitization/) - [Our Solutions](https://www.cosmotrace.com/solutions/) - [Traceware](https://www.cosmotrace.com/solutions/traceware/) - [nTrack](https://www.cosmotrace.com/solutions/ntrack/) - [Clients](https://www.cosmotrace.com/clients/) - [Blog](https://www.cosmotrace.com/blog/) - [Serialization](https://www.cosmotrace.com/blog/serialization) - [Digital](https://www.cosmotrace.com/blog/digital) - [News](https://www.cosmotrace.com/blog/news/) - [Contact](https://www.cosmotrace.com/contact-us/) - - - - - [Home](https://www.cosmotrace.com/) - [About Us](https://www.cosmotrace.com/about-us/) - [Careers](https://www.cosmotrace.com/pages/careers/) - [Services](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/) - Compliance Focused - [Misalignment Exceptions Management (US DSCSA)](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/misalignment-exceptions-management-us-dscsa/) - [EU Alert Management](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/eu-alert-management/) - [Middle East Serialization Consulting](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/middle-east-serialization-consulting/) - [China Reporting Services](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/china-reporting-services/) - Business Operations Focused - [Master Data Management](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/master-data-management/) - [Trade Partner Onboarding](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/trade-partner-onboarding/) - [Level 4 System Validation](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/level-4-system-validation/) - [Serialization System Health Check](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/serialization-system-health-check/) - Business Processes Outsourcing - [Managed Services CoE](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/managed-services-coe/) - [US DSCSA Ti Digitization](https://www.cosmotrace.com/our-services/us-dscsa-ti-digitization/) - [Our Solutions](https://www.cosmotrace.com/solutions/) - [Traceware](https://www.cosmotrace.com/solutions/traceware/) - [nTrack](https://www.cosmotrace.com/solutions/ntrack/) - [Clients](https://www.cosmotrace.com/clients/) - [Blog](https://www.cosmotrace.com/blog/) - [Serialization](https://www.cosmotrace.com/blog/serialization) - [Digital](https://www.cosmotrace.com/blog/digital) - [News](https://www.cosmotrace.com/blog/news/) - [Contact](https://www.cosmotrace.com/contact-us/) - - - - # Abbreviated Serialization Terminology You Must Know Sep 18, 2020 | [Serialization](https://blog.cosmotrace.com/serialization/tag/serialization), [Pharmaceutical](https://blog.cosmotrace.com/serialization/tag/pharmaceutical) New regulations and updated technologies in Serialization lead to changing jargon, abbreviations and terminology. A lot of them may be familiar because of common usage while some may be lesser known. In this 3 part article we’re looking at the first 20 out of a list of 60 abbreviated Serialization terminologies. ### 1. 3PL – Third-Party Logistics Third-Party Logistics Providers offer shipping services for pharmaceutical companies, digital pharmacies and Contract Manufacturing Organizations. ### 2. 3PP – Third Party Printer Third-Party Printer Organizations print serial numbers onto packaging products. ### 3. ADR – Authorized Distributor of Record A wholesale distributor that distributes manufacturer’s products ### 4. ASN – Advance Ship Notice Used as a notification for pending deliveries ### 5. BoL – Bill of Lading A document that has details of shipments of products ### 6. CAPA – Corrective and Preventive Action A process to eliminate failures in product’s qualities ### 7. CBV – Core Business Vocabulary Commonly used vocabulary when exchanging data with partners ### 8. CMO – Contract Manufacturing Organization Organizations that provide services for manufacturing and packaging of products ### 9. CPO – Contract Packaging Organization Manufacturers who subcontract the packaging of products ### 10. CSV – Comma Separated Values A format for saving data used in data exchange ### 11. DC – Distribution Center A warehouse to keep products meant to be distributed ### 12. ECC – Error Correction Coding A code used to fix errors and recover data ### 13. EDI – Electronic Data Interchange A format used to send data online to various computer systems ### 14. EPC – Electronic Product Code Commonly used in the supply chain, it’s a serial number for a specific product ### 15. EPCIS – Electronic Product Code Information Services This is meant to allow EPC related data to be shared across various networks ### 16. ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning system A software that manages a company’s back-office operations ### 17. FMD – Falsified Medicines Directive Also known as EU FMD, it protects patients from counterfeit medicines ### 18. GCP – Global Company Prefix A globally unique code used to identify trade items like logistic units, locations, parties, and assets ### 19. GLN – Global Location Number Consists of a 13 digit number that allows tracking of location and reference of a product in the supply chain ### 20. GTIN – Global Trade Item Number Used in databases to check on products. The number can be searched via barcode scanners #### Search #### Recent Posts - [Egypt’s Pharmaceutical Track and Trace - From 2019 Pilot to 2025 Nationwide Mandate](https://blog.cosmotrace.com/serialization/egypt-pharma-traceability-2025-mandate) - [Algeria’s 2027 Pharmaceutical Serialization & Aggregation](https://blog.cosmotrace.com/serialization/algeria-2027-pharmaceutical-serialization-aggregation) - [Serialization and Traceability in the Middle East: Navigating a Complex Compliance Landscape](https://blog.cosmotrace.com/serialization/middle-east-serialization-traceability-compliance) - [Sri Lanka Extends Barcode Grace Period for Medicines: What MAHs Need to Know](https://blog.cosmotrace.com/serialization/sri-lanka-barcode-grace-period-extension) - [DSCSA Enforcement Timeline: What Trading Partners Need to Know in 2025](https://blog.cosmotrace.com/serialization/dscsa-enforcement-timeline-2025) - - - - © 2020 CosmoTrace - part of ZeeInx Group