- Knowledge
introduction
Every bottle of water on the shelf and every product on the e-commerce platform cannot be separated from the inconspicuous' product barcode 'composed of thick and thin lines and numbers. Product barcodes not only greatly improve settlement efficiency, but also serve as a digital bridge connecting manufacturers, logistics providers, and retailers. And when your product goes global, a compliant 'international ID card' will become the key lifeline for customs clearance, listing, and settlement! At present, the number of times product barcodes are scanned worldwide every day reaches billions of times!You need to know about international product barcodes.
A product barcode is composed of a set of regularly arranged bars, spaces, and their corresponding codes, representing the barcode symbol of the product code, including codes and barcode identifiers for retail goods, storage and transportation packaging goods, logistics units, participant locations, and so on. As a core component of the GS1 global unified coding identification system, the product barcode is currently the most widely used coding standard worldwide. It has the characteristics of fast recognition speed, high accuracy, low cost, and international universality, and is the "key character index" for entering the product information database. Simply put, a product barcode is a unique identifier.
2、 Types of product barcodes
1 UPC-A
The structure consists of 12 digits and is suitable for retail products (individual items) in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico
2 EAN-13
The structure consists of 13 digits and is used for retail products (globally applicable), suitable for 200 countries including Europe, Asia, Latin America, etc
3 ITF-14
The structure consists of 14 digit thick lines and is used for logistics packaging (boxes, pallets). It is globally applicable
4 GS1-128
The structure is a variable length character, applied to industries with additional information (batch, expiration date), suitable for high regulatory industries such as healthcare and food
5 ISBN
The structure consists of 13 digits and is used in books and publications worldwide.
6 ISSN
The structure consists of 8 digits and is used in journals and magazines. It is globally applicable.
3、 The function of product barcode
1. Basic threshold
·More than 200 countries/regions worldwide require products to be labeled with barcodes, otherwise they cannot enter offline supermarkets and mainstream e-commerce platforms.
·Wal Mart, Amazon and other giants will directly remove "code free goods" from the shelves!
2. Business efficiency
·Scan and read: Product name, specifications, price, origin and other information are automatically synchronized with the global supply chain system.
·Avoiding inventory chaos caused by "one item with multiple codes" and reducing cross-border logistics costs by 30%.
3. Brand protection
·Unique identifier: GS1 international standard barcode is globally unique to prevent the circulation of counterfeit goods.
·Data sovereignty: Owning barcodes means mastering the circulation data of goods and refusing to "make wedding dresses" for contract factories.
4. Accurately identify and prevent collusion of goods
One item, one code positioning to the production batch, fast traceability of problematic products (such as improving food recall efficiency by 70%)
Data: Pharmaceutical companies using GS1 barcode have seen a 90% decrease in cross selling complaints
5. Open up data silos
Scan the QR code to synchronize inventory and sales data in real-time, increasing the accuracy of out of stock alerts by 65%
4、 Three key steps for applying for product barcodes
Step 1: Match national rules
Step 2: Submit materials and assign codes
·Basic materials: Business license, product list (including specifications/models), brand and trademark certificate.
·Exclusive service: Our team provides multilingual material translation and GS1 system filling to avoid rejection due to formatting errors.
Step 3: Global synchronous filing
·Data Direct Connection: Synchronize the code to the Global Commodity Database (GEPIR), Amazon Brand Filing System, etc.
·Printing guidance: Provide compliance solutions for barcode printing size, color, and position in various countries (such as the EU rejecting red barcodes).
5、 Differences in coding rules across different markets
1. North American market (USA/Canada)Big)
Mandatory requirement: Use UPC-A code (EAN-13 not accepted).
Special scenario: Books need to apply for ISBN and UPC codes simultaneously.
2. European market (EU/UK)
Universal code: EAN-13 code (prefix 30-37 for France, 400-440 for Germany).
Environmental requirements: Packaging must be printed with ITF-14 code (for recycling tracking).
3. Asian markets (China/Japan)
China: EAN-13 code (prefix 690-699) product QR code (anti-counterfeiting traceability).
Japan: JAN code (EAN-13 variant) shortened code (EAN-8) (for small commodities).
6、 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. Will barcodes be hijacked? How to ensure uniqueness?
can't! Under the GS1 system, codes are allocated by branches of each country to ensure global uniqueness.
But be cautious: using unofficial channels to purchase 'second-hand codes' may result in duplicate items being taken down!
2. Can multiple products share the same code?
Absolutely prohibited! Different specifications, packaging, and colors require independent coding, otherwise it will result in:
E-commerce platforms determine 'duplicate listings' and remove products from the shelves.
The warehouse delivery is chaotic, and the error rate has skyrocketed.
3. Do I need to reapply for export if I already have a domestic barcode?
Must apply! The Chinese product code (starting with 690-699) is only valid within the country, and export requires the application of a target country barcode (such as UPC in the United States or EAN in Europe).
4. Will the barcode expire? Do you need to renew?
Forever valid! However, it should be noted that:
Enterprise information changes (such as address and legal representative) need to be updated and filed.
Some countries require regular submission of proof of use (such as Brazil updating every 5 years).
5. What should I do if someone else uses my barcode?
Immediate action: Query the information of the impersonating party through the GS1 database. Submit an infringement complaint to the platform (proof of ownership of the code is required).
