GS1 barcodes/GTINs are necessary for most online and traditional retailers including Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, Google, Carrefour, Tesco and Walmart
GS1 is the only official provider of GS1 GTINs and EAN/UPC barcodes globally.
We’ve been helping companies to identify their products since the very first barcode was used back in 1973. When you get your barcodes from GS1, you also get peace of mind that your numbers are unique and authentic within the GS1 system.
Do business globally
As a global standards organisation, we ensure our GS1 barcodes work everywhere in the world.
Manage your barcodes/GTINs online
Most GS1 offices provide a free online tool that makes it easy to accurately create and manage your product GTINs and barcodes.
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Our support team is here to help you on your journey as your business grows.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I apply the barcodes to the products?
There are several ways to apply a barcode to an item. You first need to convert the barcode numbers into a barcode image using software.
Depending on your particular needs, you can then:
- Integrate the barcode image into your packaging design and artwork
- Use pre-printed labels
- Print the barcodes on site directly onto the packaging
Are all barcodes the same?
All barcodes represent data in a machine readable format using patterns of different widths of dark bars and pale spaces, but the similarities end there. Some show the data only using the different widths of the bars, some have only two different widths of bars and spaces, some can only represent numbers, while others can show alphanumeric data.
The barcodes used by the GS1 System have, in some cases, been specially designed for it, while others have been adapted to suit the requirements of the System’s users. All the barcodes used by the GS1 System have a standardized data content which means that they can be used by any company that has adopted the GS1 System. GS1 barcodes also have special features to ensure they are not confused with any other barcodes.
The barcodes used by GS1 include EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8, UPC-E, GS1 DataBar family of symbols, GS1-128, ITF-14, GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 QR Code, and Composite Component.
For more information please click here: http://www.gs1.org/barcodes
Are the description and price of the item included in the barcode?
Generally no. The barcode represents the number that simply identifies the item uniquely. All the information about a product is held in a computer database. By scanning the barcode, this information (including the description and price) may be retrieved from the database.
The only exception is the specialist numbering system devised for Retail Variable Measure Trade Items and money-off coupon numbers that include the price of the item or value of the coupon.
What is a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)?
A Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is a unique number that identifies any pre-defined trade item (a product or service) that may be priced, ordered or invoiced at any point in any supply chain. Trade items include all services and products, from raw materials through to end user products.
The Brand Owner, the organisation that owns the specifications of the trade item, regardless of where and by whom it is manufactured, is normally responsible for the allocation of the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN).
Different GTINs must be allocated to every different product that the Brand Owner is responsible for, and detailed rules have been developed to help companies allocate them correctly. For further information, please see GTIN Management Rules.
See http://www.gs1.org/gtin for more information.