UPCBay

What Is GS1?

GS1 is a not-for-profit standards organization that manages the global barcode system. They issue company prefixes — the first digits in a UPC or EAN that identify the manufacturer. Before 2002, the same function was handled by the Uniform Code Council (UCC) in the US. GS1 is effectively the gatekeeper of the global product identifier system.

Real example

If you join GS1, you get a company prefix — say '0614141'. Every product you register under that prefix gets a unique GTIN, like 0614141000012. When any scanner reads that code, the prefix points back to your GS1 membership record.

How GS1 is used in e-commerce

  • GS1 membership is required to list products at Kroger, Costco, and other major US retailers that verify GTINs against GS1's database.
  • GS1 issues ISBNs for books and ITF-14 codes for shipping cases.
  • Google's Shopping Knowledge Panel pulls product data from GS1's database for brand authority signals.
  • Some EDI-based wholesale systems require all GTINs to trace back to current GS1 members.

Need a barcode for your product? Get one from $8 — one-time payment, instant delivery.

See packages →

Common questions

Related terms

GTINUPC codeEAN codeUPCBay vs GS1