539 Barcode Numbers

In countries where GS1 exists, the ONLY legal way to get to start with these assigned country codes is to join GS1. GS1 is a membership organisation which distributes barcodes by licensing them out for a yearly fee. Companies like Barcode1 Ireland, which sell barcodes for a one-off cost, provide numbers typically starting with 06, 07 or 08. This signifies the barcodes originated in the USA. Any other company claiming to sell barcodes starting 539 in Ireland are almost certainly selling made-up or illegal numbers.

Many people mistakenly believe that the first few digits of the barcode numbers show the product’s country of origin. However, the barcode number says NOTHING accurate about the product’s country of origin. The only thing that these first few digits show is the country of origin of the number.  So, in reality, products that come from Ireland can have any barcode number on them.

Made In Ireland

If you want to demonstrate that your product is Irish, the best way to do this is to print “Made in Ireland” or similar on the product. This is an advertising claim and must be provable if challenged.  (Some manufacturers also print “Made in Ireland” directly above the barcode to help customers).

The myth of the barcode number showing the country of origin of the product is an old myth. Please see this Snopes article on the origins of this myth as well as a debunking of it.

Barcodes and barcode systems are designed for international use. There are virtually no restrictions based on the country of origin worldwide. Any specific examples of stores placing any restrictions on barcodes can be seen here.

We are a member of an international network of barcode sellers that have customers in more than 120 countries using our barcodes without any problems.