Where are barcodes accepted?
What restrictions do retailers place on barcodes?
These are common and important questions about the use of barcodes and barcode acceptance. Our barcodes work in retail databases and we have clients using our numbers in Woolworths, Coles, IGA. Harris Farms. Bunnings, Mitre 10, Mighty Ape, just to name a few.
Here are some examples of our barcodes in use;
Liquorland – Alice Springs Brewing
Broadly speaking, there are three main groups of retailers, as outlined below –
- One small group of retailers effectively require you to be a member of GS1 (& hence pay GS1’s joining fees and annual fees).
- Another larger group of retailers require barcode verification reports – we can supply these for you if needed – we are the only barcode reseller (that we know of) who can provide these for you.
- The majority of retailers worldwide will accept any legal and legitimate barcode.
Note – There are thousands of retailers in Australia and millions of retailers worldwide. Because of this, we can’t know all barcode restrictions worldwide. Hence, please check with your specific retailer(s) before purchasing barcodes. If you have any questions about this or require further information, please contact us.
| Barcode Restrictions Retail Category (see details below) |
Specific Retailers (see details below) | Barcodes Ltd (that’s us). |
Other Barcode Resellers |
GS1 |
| The places that FORCE you to become a member of GS1 (very expensive) |
AustraliaSuper Retail Group & Costco (Amart Sports, BCF Boating Camping Fishing, Goldcross Cycles, FCO Fishing Camping Outdoors, Ray’s Outdoors, Rebel, Supercheap Auto and Super Retail Commercial) – requires their suppliers to prove that they are a current member of GS1. Canada & USAAmazon, Costco, Home Depot, Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club, Kroger/Fred Meyers, Macy’s/Bloomingdales, J.C. Penney’s, WholeFoods Market and some EDI systems require you to be a current member of GS1. Check with these stores directly if you intend to sell to them. NZFoodstuffs NZ Many of our customers hope to get their products into major retail chains but realise that they have a low chance of success and that it may take many years, so they start with our barcodes, realising they MIGHT need to switch to GS1 barcodes if they somehow manage to get an order from a large retail chain – and that order should be large enough to justify the additional expense of GS1’s costly joining fee and annual fees. Please see https://barcodes.co.nz/foodstuffs-nz-barcode-requirements-for-suppliers/ Super Retail Group, which runs the Supercheap Auto stores in NZ, requires their suppliers to prove that they are a current member of GS1. Hence, they will effectively only accept barcode numbers that have come directly from GS1. NOTE that Super Retail Group also owns Rebel Sports in NZ. Amazon & Costco requires current member of GS1 ChinaSome distributors mistakenly believe that the barcode shows the product’s country of origin. Hence, they prefer or require barcodes that come directly from GS1. |
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| Our barcodes work but they prefer GS1 |
AmazonOur barcodes work on Amazon. Many of our client’s products are listed on Amazon. Amazon is increasingly pro-GS1. Our clients list unbranded. If you wish to list on Amazon as a brand, you must supply your trademark and get your barcodes from GS1. For some restricted categories such as food, Amazon might also insist that you obtain barcodes directly from GS1. If in doubt, check with Amazon before purchasing barcodes. List products that do not have a Product ID (UPC, EAN, JAN or ISBN) This exemption is for brand owners who do not have a GTIN (barcode), sellers of generic products, or those selling bundled packs where the manufacturer does not provide a GTIN. Please read this page. |
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| Our Barcodes Work Here These companies have accepted our barcodes – but often require Barcode Verification Reports &/or GLN numbers (PLEASE COME TO US FOR VERIFICATION) |
UKASDA – All ITF-14 Barcodes must pass ISO/IEC Barcode Verification Reports. Any printed stickers must achieve a minimum ‘C’ grade. Ireland
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| Pharmaceuticals | The FDA have indicated companies who manufacture drugs must be a member of GS1. | |||
| No specific barcode restrictions | Most retailers in the world. |
EAN-13 Barcode Package
If you have any questions about barcode acceptance, please contact us.
NOTE – we endeavour to make this as accurate as possible. However, there are tens of thousands of retailers in Australia and NZ and millions worldwide who can each impose any restriction they wish. Please let us know if you are aware of any other restrictions.
NOTE – this is the most comprehensive list of restrictions we know of on the internet (please tell us if you find a more accurate one). Other resellers give no warnings or are vague, so don’t trust them. We put a lot of time and effort into making this as accurate as possible. We doubt that you will find a more accurate list of restrictions on the internet (let us know if you do).