Barcode Quality Program

This process enables you to demonstrate that a specific printer/font combination accurately translates and prints the bar state values as their associated barcode characters - and that the print quality of your barcodes can pass our technical specifications.

When you register, you'll receive a Print Test File (PTF), which you can use to send print samples to the Barcode Quality Program for testing. If your printer passes the test, you'll receive a certificate.

If you don't need Print Certification, you can contact the BQP for a preliminary barcode check on physically printed or electronically supplied samples.

Please note: if you supply barcodes electronically, we cannot check their dimensions - but we can verify address matching and barcode length and height.

The Software Content process is designed to help product developers with barcode content logic, from the Delivery Point Identifier (DPID) and other parameters to correctly translating bar state values (the digits that are later converted into barcode characters).

When you register for this, you'll receive a Self Test File (STF), which you can use to measure and diagnose your software's capability to generate barcodes.

When you've completed your in-house testing with the STF, we'll send you the Approval Test File (ATF), which contains specific test cases for testing. You then return the completed test file to the Barcode Quality Program for testing. If your software passes the test, you'll receive a certificate.

It normally takes around 10 working days to provide the Statement of Capability, depending on the quality of the testing information we receive.

We supply templates and instructions during the testing phase. They are also available from your Australia Post sales contact or by emailing bqp.help@auspost.com.au.

The CBQA Program is for companies in the Bulk Mail Partners Program. Equipment includes the following:

• Scanner stand
• CD Software
• Installation instructions/relevant documentation
• Calibration barcode
• Scanner (charges apply)
• USB cable (charges apply)

• Barcoding Fact Sheet (PDF 92kB) - Oct 2014 - an easy to understand, high level summary of the important details for barcoding, including the benefits of barcoding, accessing barcoding and the composition of a barcode
• Australia Post Address Presentation Standards (PDF 441kB) - 1999 - outlines the correct format for address information on envelopes or flysheets
• A guide to printing the 4-state barcode (PDF 631kB) - Mar 2012 - details the steps to create a 4-state barcode
• Customer Barcode Technical Specifications (PDF 1MB) - Aug 2012 - describes the symbology, format, fields, values and other characteristics of barcodes
• Australia Post recognised 4-state barcode and zero format barcode (PDF 41kB) - Apr 2012 - chart containing the valid 4-state barcode types you can use for your bulk mailing campaigns (including the 37, 52 and the 67 barcode lengths, the alternative zero barcode types with the appended Zero Format Control Code for the 52 and the 67 barcode lengths for bulk mailing lodgements)

• Zero FCC format barcode specification (PDF 77kB) - Mar 2012 - if a DPID assignment is unsuccessful, you can use an alternative Format Control Code (FCC) on all unassigned DPID articles to append additional information within an extended length (52 or 67) 4-state barcode. This provides a consistent method of data capture for all returns, orders or campaign responses. The FCC section of the barcode must be interpreted as zeros
• Zero Value Fact Sheet (PDF 70kB) - Sep 2009 - facts on using the zero value format control code, which assigns zero values to the FCC and the DPID. If the article is returned to the sender, they can still scan it and the appended return/order tracking information encoded in the customer information field is captured