What are GTIN, GTINs, GS1, GS1-US?
Starting in 2005 there was an introduction to a new barcode type, the GS1. The
GS1 is a new name for EAN International and GS1-US is the new name for the UCC
or Uniform Code Council. The new barcodes are GTIN barcodes UCC.EAN-13, UCC-12,
UCC.EAN-8. Which are variants of other barcode types.
Are both EAN and UPC necessary on products sold in North America?
Starting in 2005 both Canada and the USA require to have both EAN and UPC barcodes types label on products being sold at a retail level.
How small can my barcode be?
It depends on the barcode type you're using. For EAN-128 and code 3of9 it is recommended to use 8 millimeters or 3.2 inches. For UPC, the dimensions cannot be an less then one inch in width. If your barcode is too small the scanners will have a hard time reading them.
How do I get a bar code number for my product?
If you plan on selling your product to end users at store level through a
distribution channel, retail, you'll need the UPC barcode type. If not, the
barcode type is determined by the industry you're selling to o.
Where can I get a UPC barcode?
This needs to be purchased from GS1, the authority on UPC. They're the only ones to issue UPC barcodes.