Barcode Country Code Prefix

What is this, and what does it mean?

Barcode numbers beginning with specifically assigned country codes are the barcode numbers that come directly from GS1 in a specific country OR are issued by an official standards agency in that country.

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 (which signifies the barcodes originated in the USA). If you see a company claiming to sell barcodes starting with your local country code (539 in Ireland), they are almost certainly selling made-up or illegal numbers.

In countries with a non-GS1 Standards Body, that organization or the International Barcodes Network agency in the country can provide the country-specific numbers.

Origin of Product

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

If you want to show that your product is made in your own country (e.g., Ireland), the best way is to print “Made in Ireland” or a similar phrase directly on the product. This counts as an advertising claim, so you must be able to prove it if someone challenges it. (Some manufacturers also print “Made in Ireland” above the barcode to make it easier for customers to spot.)

The idea that a barcode number reveals a product’s country of origin is a long-debunked myth. You can read more in this Snopes article.

Here’s the sentence rewritten in active voice:

Countries place virtually no restrictions on barcode systems, as designers created them for global use. You can find specific examples of stores applying any type of barcode restrictions 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.

Below is a list of country codes from GS1 organisations and other Standards Agencies around the world: