Pittsburgh, PA, March 10, 2026 – AIM Global, the leading international industry association, global authority and resource in automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technologies and innovations including barcode, biometrics, IoT, NFC, RFID, RTLS, and RAIN, is spearheading development of the ISO/IEC 15459 IAC-CIN Lookup Service.
As an industry neutral association, AIM serves as the ISO International Registration Authority (RA) for the ISO/IEC 15459 Standard. ISO/IEC 15459 is an international standard for the unique identification of physical and virtual entities (items, transport units, containers, etc.) across supply chains. It defines rules for generating globally unique identifiers represented via barcodes, 2D symbols, RFID, and other data carriers. These unique identifiers ensure traceability and interoperability between disparate entities.
AIM is responsible for managing the registration, issuance, and tracking of unique Issuing Agency Codes (IAC) and the issuing agencies (IAs) that allocate Company Identification Numbers (CINs). AIM’s function as the RA for this critical ISO/IEC standard ensures conformity to the standard and ultimately the issuance of globally unique identifiers.
The ISO/IEC 15459 lookup service takes the current Issuing Agency Register in paper format and transforms it into an online, open, federated, interoperable searchable database. It leverages IAC-CIN combinations to establish the trust context of associated datasets, identifiers, applications, or services, and to provide references to subordinate lookup or resolver services. Consumers and regulators can utilize this automated system to access comprehensive product information including authenticity and sustainability tracking, while streamlining access to user manuals and guidelines.
“The IAC-CIN Lookup Service is especially critical for the EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) regulations by enabling accurate, trustworthy tracking from manufacturing to recycling, and facilitating compliance with upcoming regulations for batteries, textiles, and electronics. A standards-based lookup service is needed to ensure safety, interoperability and efficiency across products, services, processes, and stakeholders, including the general public. Unlike proprietary, for-profit systems, a standards-based approach provides a level playing field for everyone to securely retrieve relevant, up-to-date information,” explained AIM Global CEO, Mary Lou Bosco.
The ISO/IEC 15459 IAC-CIN Lookup Service will be operational by the end of May 2026