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Frequently Asked Questions about Barcodes

What's the difference between a GS1 barcode and other barcodes?

If you are researching barcode numbers on the internet you may come across websites offering you barcodes at a very cheap one-off rate. These operators are not part of the GS1 network and are not authorised to sell GS1 numbers. In fact the numbers may be rejected by retailers and major online ecommerce sites.

 
Who is GS1?

GS1 standards improve the efficiency, safety and visibility of supply chains across physical and digital channels in 25 sectors

 
What is a GTIN?

A "GTIN" or Global Trade Item Number is the official term for a barcode number - the code that uniquely identifies a product or service. A GTIN is built up from a GS1 Company Prefix (GCP) to create a full barcode number.

 
How much does a barcode cost?

There are is an annual licence fee for a barcode whish is charged pro-rata throughout the calendar year (Jan - Sept).

 
Barcode Symbols

An introduction to the seven groups of GS1 barcode symbols, how they are used and their print specifications.

 
Do barcode symbols need to be a particular size?

There are global guidelines on the target size, height and width for each type of barcode symbol.

 
Why do I need a GLN?

Get a Global Location Number (GLN) to identify your company in EDI messages such as electronic invoices and orders. GLNs are used as an EDI mailbox number.

 
How to get a UPC or EAN to list a product with Amazon, ebay or Google?

Selling on a retail website or online platform such as Amazon, ebay or Google Shopping? Get an EAN, UPC or GTIN code to identify your product for the seller.