Introduction
European Article Number (EAN), also referred to as Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), is a type of barcode symbology, accepted and used all across the globe. Businesses obtain EAN/GTIN to uniquely identify their products in the market, sell them cross-border, list them on e-marketplaces and eventually streamline their operations. In India, GS1 India – one of the 116 member organizations’ of GS1 Global, is the only body authorised from where you can purchase EANs for your businesses and sell your products in the domestic and international market.
The Importance of EANs/GTINs for Brand Owners
Every product being sold in the market needs to have a unique identification to differentiate itself from others. Unique product identities foster transparency in the supply chain, build trust and optimise business operations globally. GTIN/EAN is one such unique identification number which is recognised and accepted worldwide and provides better visibility to the products being sold.
Be it an online marketplace such as Amazon or offline retailers, GTINs/EANs are required by all to streamline product listing. In fact, Google has reported that products having GTINs/EANs have as high as 40% impressions and have more than 20% chances of conversions. As a brand owner, if you want to maintain customer trust and brand credibility then it is paramount for you to purchase EANs.
What Are EANs/GTINs?
EANs/GTINs are a series of numbers in a standardised order used on retail products. This unique number set is composed of four critical components – Country Code, Company Code, Product Code and Check Digit. Every component of a EAN/GTIN identifies a specific element. Country code is the unique code of the country with which the company is registered for barcodes, the company code is a unique number provided by GS1 member organisation to the company as its unique identification, product code is generated by the company and check digit is a computer generated digit used to validate the GTIN/EAN.
‘890’ is the country code provided by GS1 Global to GS1 India. This means every GTIN/EAN of products manufactured in India will have ‘890’ as their prefix. The company code and product code of a GTIN will vary based on the number of barcodes the company is registered for. Below given is an example (fig 1) of a GTIN wherein the company is registered for 100,000 barcodes. Companies can get registered for 100, 1000, 10000 or 100000 barcodes, based on their requirements.
EAN/GTIN Types
EAN-13/GTIN-13 – It is a 13-digits unique identification code that is used to identify retail products internationally. This barcode can be read by scanners at point-of-sale or throughout the product’s supply journey with the help of a scanner.
EAN-8/GTIN-8 – It is a compressed version of EAN-13/GTIN-13. It contains 8-digits and is used to identify products that are very small, for example – cosmetics.
Why Purchase EANs Directly from GS1?
Purchasing EANs/GTINs from GS1 is the only way to ensure your barcodes are authorised. GS1 is an international organisation which brings industry leaders, regulators, government and different associations together with the purpose to develop and implement standards-based supply chain solutions. It has member organisations in 116 countries and has more than 2 million user companies which promote 10 billion transactions every day.
This extensive reach and globally standardised approach to unique product identification, structured operations, authenticity and inclusivity make GS1 the only recognised provider of barcodes globally. Let’s understand the above mentioned features of GS1 in detail, with context to the Indian businesses.
Extensive Reach – Indian businesses who wish to export (sell their products in different countries worldwide) are recommended to obtain GS1 barcodes. GS1 barcodes are accepted and used worldwide making cross-border sale operations easier for businesses. It simplifies their journey of reaching international marketplaces and empowers businesses with streamlined supply chain operations. Additionally, the EAN number promotes consistent identification of products, regardless of the geographical boundaries.
Global Standardisation – With GS1 barcodes, businesses get a standardised system of product identification through the EAN/GTIN codes which is accepted globally.
Unique Product Identification – GS1 barcodes are unique to each product being sold in the market. No two products having differences in weight, size, packaging, colour, ingredients, dimensions, etc. can have the same GTIN. Every product variant will have a different GTIN on it which allows businesses to track and manage their inventory efficiently. The unique product identification helps avoid product misidentification and product mismatches.
Structured Operations – EAN/GTIN codes are based and created following a predefined structure of product identification codes set by GS1. Every member organisation follows this same structured approach to assign GTINs/EANs to companies promoting structured operations worldwide.
Trust & Authenticity – The EAN/GTIN codes assigned by GS1 are authentic. Businesses around the world trust these codes and apply them on their products for their unique identification. Consumers trust these codes as they guarantee the product is sourced from the original manufacturer.
Inclusivity – EAN/GTIN codes of GS1 are inclusive to all types of organisations. No matter the scale of the organisation, if you want to sell your products in the market you can get registered for GS1 barcodes.
Verified Products – EANs/GTINs can be verified and product information can be validated through the Smart Consumer mobile and web app. Furthermore, retailers can verify EAN/GTIN information through the ‘GTIN Validation’ page of GS1 India wherein all the information concerned with the EAN/GTIN will reflect on the screen.
Data is sourced directly from DataKart which is the national product data repository of India. DataKart shares product information with ‘Verified by GS1’ allowing retailers, organisations or consumers all across the globe to validate your product details. As much as 7.8 million GTINs are checked against the ‘Verified by GS1’ database every 90 seconds, making it paramount for businesses to obtain GTINs/EANs in order to improve their product visibility.
How to Purchase EANs from GS1 in India
To purchase EANs/GTINs from GS1 India you can follow the below mentioned steps –
- Visit ‘Register for Barcodes’ page of GS1 India.
- Fill the registration form.
- Submit all the required documents as and when asked.
- Pay the one-time registration fees and the subscription fees.
- In 7-10 working days you will receive a barcode allotment letter along with your Global Company Prefix (GCP).
- Use your GCP to login into DataKart and start creating GTINs/EANs for your products.
The subscription fees will depend on the number of barcodes you are getting registered for. You can get a subscription for 100,1000,10000 and 100000 barcodes.
To view the barcode registration fee structure you can visit here.
Common Questions and Misconceptions about EANs
1. Can I buy EAN codes from third-party providers?
GS1 does not recommend any company to buy EAN codes from any third-party providers. Only GS1 India is the only authorised body in India to issue barcodes starting from ‘890’. Any EAN codes provided by third-party providers are unauthorised and are not interoperable.
2. What is the difference between EAN and UPC?
European Article Number (EAN) and Universal Product Code (UPC) are both barcode symbologies that are accepted worldwide. UPC symbology is used specifically in North America. It has two types – UPC-A (a 12-digit code similar to GTIN-13/EAN-13) and UPC-E (a 8-digit code similar to GTIN-8/EAN-8).
3. How do I find my EAN number?
EAN code is printed on the packaging of your product. It is right below the barcode which is a series of black and white vertical lines.
Conclusion
It is extremely important as a business owner that whichever products you are selling in the marketplace have authorised barcodes and correct GTIN/EAN codes. This empowers not only you but every other element of the supply chain, including the end-consumers. If you have not yet registered for GS1 barcodes we recommend you follow the provided steps and start your journey of selling products seamlessly without any complications.
FAQs
Q1. What does EAN stand for?
Ans. EAN stands for European Article Number and is a type of barcode symbology that is used to uniquely identify products sold in the domestic and international market.
Q2. What is the EAN code for India?
Ans. ‘890’ is the country code provided by GS1 to GS1 India.
Q3. Who provides EAN codes?
Ans. EAN codes are provided by GS1 member organisations globally. In India, GS1 India provides EAN codes to companies.
Q4. What is a 13 digit EAN number?
Ans. EAN-13 is similar to GTIN-13 and is used to identify retail products in the market.
Q5. Do EAN numbers expire?
Yes, EAN/GTIN codes are provided based on the subscription model. Companies will have to renew their EANs/GTINs in order to continue using these numbers.
Q6. Can I use a third-party seller for EANs?
No, only GS1 India is authorised to issue EANs/GTINs to companies in India. No other company can provide authorised unique identification numbers.
