GS1 Compatible EAN-13 barcode guidelines
EAN-13 (European / International Article Number) is the global standard format for retail items sold across Europe, India, Asia, and worldwide. Formatted as an structured 13-digit string, it carries crucial company metadata and product categories:
- Country Prefix (First 3 digits): Indicates the GS1 branch country where the manufacturer registered.
- Manufacturer Prefix (Next 4 to 6 digits): Unique identifiers assigned to specific corporate brands.
- Product Identification Number (Next 3 to 5 digits): Unique product numbers defined by manufacturers.
- Validation checksum (Terminal digit): A modulo-10 checksum digit verified by lasers during scans.



