The GS1 General Assembly 2026 was held from May 18-21 in Warsaw, Poland, in a hybrid format, bringing together over 100 representatives from key divisions of the global office and national organizations—members of the GS1 community—as well as corporate top management. Industry partners and technology experts were also involved in the forum.

The National Organization of Turkmenistan for Barcodes was represented by Aykamar Malikgulyyeva, Chairwoman of GS1 Turkmenistan.

This year's GS1 Assembly was held under the theme "Vision in Action: Leadership that Shapes the Future" and traditionally focused on aligning a unified strategy, sharing knowledge, and implementing innovation. Specifically, issues of developing trust in data for businesses, consumers, regulators, and artificial intelligence systems were highlighted. One of the key events of the GS1 2026 GA was the approval of steps to implement the "VISION 2030" global strategy and the coordination of re-equipping retail chains to adopt two-dimensional codes (2D barcodes). Following the discussions, an operational plan for the global retail transition from standard linear barcodes to the next-generation 2D codes was approved, and partnerships with leading technology providers for the mass upgrade of scanning equipment worldwide were cemented.

During sessions dedicated to the topic of "Artificial Intelligence and Trust in Data," delegates agreed to the launch of new AI-based data integration tools for enriching product attributes and verifying their authenticity. A declaration was adopted on improving the quality and transparency of data for training AI systems that automate supply chains.

Discussions on the relationship between ecology and the circular economy resulted in the development of product lifecycle tracking mechanisms for the transition to a closed-loop economy (recycling of raw materials). Participants highlighted the role of identification standards in creating digital product passports for European and global markets.

Delegates participated in executive-level networking. GS1 MO leaders shared best practices for implementing new projects to foster effective collaboration.

The heads of national organizations and the GS1 Global Council reviewed organizational matters, unanimously approving corporate goals and the budget for the next financial period. New candidates for the GS1 Board were also approved.