SB nº AN-12 : Language Preference Coding (Clarification)

Application Note No. 12, July, 2003 This application note applies to EMV '96 Integrated Circuit Card Specification for Payment Systems Version 3.1.1 Annex B Data Elements Table, and EMV 2000 Integrated Circuit Card Specifications for Payment Systems Version 4.0 Book 1, Annex B Data Elements Table and Book 3, Annex A Data Elements Table. Clarification of Coding of Language Preference In order to assure that issuers correctly code the Language Preference data element on cards, it is necessary to clarify the coding of ISO 639:1988 language codes. ISO 639 indicates that the language identifier be coded in lowercase characters. However, this is not clearly stated in the standard to be a mandate. The maintenance agency for the standard indicates in an FAQ section on its website that the codes are unique irrespective of the case, and may be coded in upper or lower case. To prevent interoperability problems EMVCo strongly recommends that cards be personalised with data element 5F2D coded in lowercase, but that terminals accept the data element whether it is coded in upper or lower case. This document contains proprietary and confidential information of EMVCo LLC. Copyright © EMVCo LLC 2001