When the package is too small to print a 13-digit barcode, use 8 digits. EAN-8 trades a shorter symbol for printable area, at the cost of fewer encoding digits and allocation only by member organizations as needed.
The example number is generated in real time according to the standard (including mod10 check digit). The actual number is assigned by the coding association.
GTIN-8 (commonly called EAN-8) is the GS1 system's solution forProducts whose packaging area is too small to accommodate a 13-digit barcode8-digit encoding. It is allocated directly by member organizations to specific products, and companies generally cannot assign it themselves by range.
Products with extremely small packaging surfaces that cannot accommodate a 13-digit symbol
Like EAN-13, it enters the retail checkout and inventory system
Allocated item by item by the member organization, not independently assigned by the enterprise
GTIN-8 has 5 fewer digits than EAN-13, and the symbol is also much shorter. The left side does not use a parity bit pattern, which is the key difference from EAN-13 in symbol structure.
| Composition | Number of digits | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix / allocation code | Assigned by the member organization | The total 8-digit capacity is limited, and it is usually allocated item by item by the member organization |
| Product item code | Determined with the allocation | Each applied product item corresponds to one EAN-8 number |
| Check digit | 1 digit | Calculated by mod10,Weighted alternately by 3 and 1 starting from the leftmost digit(opposite direction from EAN-13) |
| Symbol form | 67 modules | The 4 digits on the left all use the L set,There is no parity bit pattern like EAN-13 |
The total 8-digit capacity is less than EAN-13, so the encoding capacity is limited.
The left side of EAN-8 always uses the L set, unlike EAN-13 which has parity combinations; this is a key difference in the symbol structure of the two.
Enterprises usually cannot create their own numbers and must apply to a member organization on a per-product basis.
A barcode is not something that is done once and then finished — when company information changes, when the right to use the codes needs to be maintained, or when the business is transferred, the corresponding procedures must be handled.
List of products intended for EAN-8 and the actual printable area on the packaging (need to explain why 13 digits cannot fit)
Prepare according to the registration documents of the location of the applying entity; see the checklist on the right
Submit the application to the GS1 member organization and wait for the company prefix to be assigned
After the member organization assigns 8-digit numbers item by item, they are used directly on the corresponding product packaging
The following situations require a change:
A change certificate issued by the local registration authority must be provided
The company prefix remains unchanged; only the enterprise information in the system is updated
Already printed packaging can usually continue to be used, with no need to reprint the barcode graphic
Member organizations differ in how they maintain code usage rights (annual membership fee system or validity period renewal system), subject to the current policy of that member organization. If not maintained on time, the code may be suspended or reclaimed, and the normal circulation of goods in channels will be affected.
Customers who have already processed through Bangma International can register for expiry reminders free of charge.
During mergers and acquisitions, brand transfers, or business restructuring, the company prefix can be transferred as an asset together with the business. The transfer requires a joint application by both parties and completion of changes to entity information and ownership.
The total fee usually includes: the barcode service fee charged by the member organization (based on tier and number of years) + agency service fee. Factors affecting the fee:
Once all documents are complete, the review and allocation process begins; timelines vary by country
No new code allocation is involved, so the process is relatively simple
Involves ownership confirmation; the timeline depends on how prepared both parties' materials are
The above is a description of the process sequence and does not fabricate specific numbers of days. The actual timeline is subject to the accepting organization's current announcements and processing progress, and we will keep you updated at every stage during the process.
