What is an EAN Number? Understanding European Article Numbers

At each checkpoint, individual products, cartons or containers, are scanned using barcodes to easily interpret product information. Every barcode encodes a unique product identification number. This number is the basis of trade, facilitating a continuous and accurate product information flow throughout the supply chain. This unique product identification number is referred to as GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) or EAN (European Article Number).

In this blog, you will learn about EAN numbers, understand their importance and benefits, uncover the different types of EAN numbers and know the complete process of generating these numbers.

 

What is an EAN number?

EAN number is a type of barcode numbering symbology that provides unique identification to stock-keeping units (SKUs), individual products and cartons or cases. Just as no two cars share the same registration numbers, an EAN is also unique for each product or location. EAN no. is synonymously used for GTIN. EAN/GTIN are encoded in barcodes to sell products hassle-free in online and offline marketplaces. Find below the different types of EAN/GTIN barcode symbologies.

 

Types of EAN Number

EAN/GTIN is of two types; depending on the product packaging or any other requirements, the seller may choose either of them. Mentioned below are the types and usage scenarios of each for easy understanding –

• EAN-13/GTIN-13: This type consists of a 13-digit unique identification code to identify retail products globally. The 13 digits are divided into four components – Country Code, Company Code (assigned by GS1 India to a company manufacturing the product), Product Code (assigned by the company to its product) and lastly, Check Digit (a mathematically calculated digit which validates the complete GTIN). You may find a GTIN-13/EAN-13 on retail products right below a 1D barcode on retail products. 

• EAN-8/ GTIN-8: This type consists of an 8-digit unique identification code to identify smaller retail products with limited packaging space. Although it is smaller in comparison to an EAN-13/GTIN-13, it serves the same function. You may find a GTIN-8/EAN-8 on smaller retail products like cosmetics, stationary items, etc. 

 

How EAN Numbers Work?

In the retail sector, EAN/GTIN works when encoded in either a one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) barcode. Companies subscribe to GS1 barcodes and generate GTINs/EANs for their products through DataKart – the national product data repository. This EAN/GTIN is then encoded in the selected barcode format and the image is downloaded for printing purposes.

When a product with a barcode is scanned using a scanner or a mobile phone (in the case of a 2D barcode) it reads the information encoded and decrypts the number. At retail point-of-sale, the system then cross-references this number with the local product database to retrieve product information associated with that number.

This complete barcode process eliminates any information discrepancies and ensures every supply chain stakeholder – retailer, manufacturer, wholesaler or consumer, benefits from accurate and detailed product information. This provides multiple other benefits such as inventory management, track & trace, pricing accuracy, supply chain management and others which we will discuss later in detail in this blog.

 

Steps to Create Your Own EAN

If you are a business owner who wishes to sell products on offline and online marketplaces, you need to first subscribe to GS1 barcodes. They are the only authorised, interoperable, structured and standardised barcodes that conform to global supply chain standards and meet the regulatory requirements. Below provided are the steps to create your own EAN/GTIN –

1. Visit our barcode registration page or simply follow this link – https://www.gs1india.org/content/register-for-barcodes/
2. Fill the complete barcode registration form by providing complete and accurate information about your business.
3. Attach necessary documents wherever required.
4. Pay the barcode registration fee and submit the form.
5. Within 7-10 working days you will receive your barcode allotment letter along with your Global Company Prefix (GCP).
6. You can use your GCP which is a combination of Country Code and Company Code to log into your DataKart account and generate your products’ GTINs/EANs.

Please note, that only DataKart can be used to generate EAN/GTIN for your products, no other tool or service provider available in India can issue authorised barcodes to sellers.

 

How to Verify an EAN Number?

In an attempt to safeguard retailers’ interests, GS1 India provides GTIN Validation service. On the website page of ‘GTIN Validation’ retailers need to provide the complete GTIN/EAN code of the product they want to verify. The system then verifies the GTIN against the GS1 database and reflects the linked product data. In case sellers want to validate GTINs/EANs in bulk they can send us an e-mail directly on the provided email address – implementation@gs1india.org 

 

Consumer interest has been jeopardised for ages by means of adulteration, counterfeiting, or contamination. To empower them, we have developed the ‘Smart Consumer’ app. The app allows consumers to make informed purchase decisions by providing them with authentic and accurate product information at one place. The app sources product data directly from the national product data repository – DataKart.

 

Why Barcodes Are Important for Businesses

Barcodes play an important role in simplifying supply chain processes and in helping businesses achieve operational excellence. Below are some important benefits that GS1 barcodes help businesses achieve –

• Inventory Management – Barcodes help retailers avoid situations of stockouts and overstocking. They further reduce errors caused due to manual stock-taking. This results in more reliable inventory levels. 
• Targeted Product Recall – Barcodes enable efficient targeted product recalls in cases of contamination or adulteration within the supply chain. Scanning barcodes allows businesses to trace and recall the targeted products.

• Global Visibility – With GS1 barcodes being the global language of business, they are globally acceptable, providing global visibility to your products.

• Faster Product Listing – GTINs are used to list products in various online marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart. Entering product GTIN automatically fetches all the product details connected with it.  

• Product Data Management – With our product data management platform, DataKart, businesses can store, manage, share and upload product information in one place.

• Quick Scanning at Point-of-Sale – GS1 barcodes enable fast and efficient scanning at the point of sale, enhancing the checkout experience and boosting customer satisfaction.

 

Conclusion

While it is important to note the importance and impact of EAN/GTIN in the supply chains, it is also crucial to ensure you are getting barcodes from authorised sellers only. GS1 India is the only authorised seller in India to issue barcodes to businesses. Only GS1 barcodes are structured and meet the required global standards of the supply chain.

 

FAQs 

Q1. What is the full form of EAN?

EAN stands for European Article Number

Q2. Is EAN a 13 digit number?

EAN can be either 13-digits or 8-digits depending on the product type. 

Q3. Who provides EAN code?

Companies obtain GCP (Global Company Prefix) from GS1 India which can then be used to log into DataKart to generate EAN/GTIN codes.