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How to Obtain a Barcode for a Product

Get a GTIN through your local GS1 organisation if you own a new product; resellers should use the product’s existing identifier. Learn how allocation, barcode artwork, and Amazon requirements fit together.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
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To barcode a product you own, get a GTIN from your local GS1 member organisation, then create barcode artwork that encodes that number and apply it to the product’s packaging or label. If you resell an existing branded product, use the GTIN already assigned to it rather than obtaining a new one. A barcode image generator can render a number, but it does not assign a legitimate product identifier.

First, distinguish the barcode from the product number

A barcode is the machine-readable symbol printed on packaging. The number encoded in it is a Global Trade Item Number, or GTIN. UPC and EAN are common barcode and identifier formats; ISBN and JAN can also serve as product IDs in relevant markets and channels. A seller SKU is different: it is an internal inventory label, not a globally assigned GTIN.

GS1 defines a GTIN as identifying a trade item that may be priced, ordered, or invoiced in a supply chain. Its identifiers are unique, searchable, and traceable in the GS1 system. See GS1’s GTIN overview.

Choose the right route for your product

Your situation What to do Do you need a new GTIN?
You own the brand or are launching a product under your own brand Obtain an allocation through the appropriate local GS1 organisation, then generate barcode artwork. Usually, yes, for each product or product variant that needs its own trade-item identifier.
You resell or distribute an existing branded product Use the identifier assigned to that product. Ask its brand owner or manufacturer for the GTIN if you do not have it. No. Do not get a new GTIN just because the item is new to your store.
You sell through Amazon Follow the current rules for your marketplace and category. Amazon commonly uses UPCs and may also accept ISBN, EAN, or JAN as product IDs; some sellers may apply for an exemption. It depends on the listing and current eligibility rules.

GS1 operates through local member organisations in more than 120 countries; the local organisation guides registration and assignment. The exact licensing route and fees depend on that organisation and your product range. See GS1’s barcode page to find the appropriate starting point.

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If you own a new product, get its GTIN through GS1

  1. Decide which trade items need identifiers. Consider each product and product variant that will be priced, ordered, invoiced, or listed as a distinct item. Do not treat a barcode image generator as a way to obtain a GTIN; it only turns a number into a scannable symbol.
  2. Find your local GS1 member organisation. Use GS1’s barcode page to locate the organisation serving your country. Registration options and fees vary by market.
  3. Register and obtain an allocation. GS1 offers individual GTIN licensing and company-prefix options for businesses with larger product ranges. Review the current terms from your local organisation before selecting a route. GS1 US explains its barcode options; those terms are specific to the United States.
  4. Enter accurate product information and create the barcode artwork. GS1 US says its Data Hub can help assign GTINs and generate production-ready barcode artwork. Follow the relevant GS1 system’s instructions for the details you enter. See GS1 US’s barcode guidance.
  5. Put the barcode on the package or label. Use the artwork with the GTIN that matches the product, and enter that same identifier in retailer or marketplace listings. For Amazon, check the live rules for the marketplace and category before creating a listing.

If you resell a branded product, use its existing GTIN

A reseller does not need a new GTIN simply because the product is new to their inventory. Look for the barcode on the packaging or product label; the identifier may be a UPC, EAN, JAN, or ISBN depending on the item and market. If you cannot find it, ask the brand owner or manufacturer. GS1 specifically advises resellers and distributors to request the existing GS1 GTIN from those parties. See GS1’s barcode guidance.

What to know if you sell on Amazon

Amazon uses product IDs to identify items and match them to existing product detail pages. Its guidance names UPC as the most common GTIN and also lists ISBN, EAN, and JAN as product IDs found on packaging. A seller making and owning a new product can obtain a GTIN through GS1; a seller sourcing from a manufacturer can ask that manufacturer for the identifier. See Amazon’s GTIN guidance.

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Amazon says a GTIN exemption may be available in some cases, but its general guidance does not establish that every handmade, private-label, generic, or unbranded product qualifies. Eligibility and documentation can vary by marketplace and category, so check the current Seller Central instructions before relying on an exemption. GS1’s support guidance says Amazon requires GS1 GTINs in most categories and that sellers will probably need one for each product; treat that as general guidance, not a rule that overrides possible exemptions or listing-specific requirements. See GS1’s Amazon barcode support article.

Protect the identifier from mismatch or resale problems

The GTIN must correspond to the actual product and brand in the listing. GS1 says its GTINs cannot be transferred or resold, and recommends obtaining authentic identifiers through a local GS1 member organisation. A barcode graphic alone does not make a number valid or establish that it belongs to your product.

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If you have a number and want to check its association, search it in GS1’s Verified by GS1 database. Because Amazon uses product IDs to match items to detail pages, a mismatch between the identifier and the product can create listing or verification problems. Do not assume a third-party code will be accepted by a retailer or marketplace.

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Print and apply the barcode after allocation

GTIN allocation and barcode printing are separate tasks: first obtain the identifier, then render it as barcode artwork for scanning and place it on suitable packaging or a label. GS1 US says Data Hub supports barcode generation and that GS1 solution partners can help with labeling and packaging. A thermal label printer is optional equipment for printing labels; buying one does not issue or validate a GTIN. See GS1 US’s barcode guidance.

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