EAN-13 Barcodes & GS1 Barcodes UK: What Every Business Needs to Know
Pick up almost any product sold in a UK shop and you will find a row of black lines with a 13-digit number underneath. That is an EAN-13 barcode, issued under the GS1 system of international standards. If you manufacture, import, or sell physical goods in the UK, GS1 barcodes UK retailers and wholesalers accept are almost certainly part of your business. This guide explains how the system works, which formats you need, how to get your numbers, and what Sunrise 2027 means for your labels.
What Are GS1 Barcodes UK Businesses Use?
GS1 is a global not-for-profit organisation that maintains the standards behind product identification worldwide. GS1 barcodes UK businesses use are built around a single concept: the Global Trade Item Number, or GTIN. This is the unique number that identifies a specific product. The barcode is the printed symbol that encodes that number in a form scanners can read.
Every size, colour, or variant of a product needs its own GTIN. A 330ml and 500ml bottle of the same drink are different products in the GS1 system and each needs a separate code. Getting this right from the start avoids costly catalogue errors later. Our barcode symbologies guide covers the broader barcode landscape if you need context on where GS1 formats fit in.
EAN-13 – The Standard Format for GS1 Barcodes UK Retail Uses
EAN-13 encodes a 13-digit GTIN and is the format for consumer goods sold at retail point-of-sale across the UK and most of the world. North America uses the 12-digit UPC-A format, but the two systems are compatible within the GS1 network.
The 13 digits divide into four segments. The first block is the GS1 Company Prefix, assigned to your organisation when you join GS1 UK. UK prefixes typically start with 50, though this indicates registration location rather than country of manufacture. The next digits form your item reference, assigned by you for each product. The final digit is a check digit that lets scanners verify the number has been read correctly.
How GS1 Barcodes UK Label Print Specifications Work
EAN-13 barcodes have strict sizing requirements. The reference size is 37.29mm wide by 26.26mm tall. GS1 permits scaling between 80% and 200% of this – going below 80% risks scan failures at retail checkouts. Quiet zones, the clear white space either side of the bars, are mandatory, and bar edges must be sharp and consistent throughout.
Label material and print process both affect scan performance. Our barcode labels are produced on digital presses at 600dpi and 1200dpi, ensuring bar edges are clean and symbols reliably meet GS1 scanning standards.
Beyond EAN-13 – Other GS1 Barcodes UK Businesses Rely On
EAN-13 covers retail point-of-sale, but the supply chain uses other formats. GS1-128 is the standard for shipping and distribution. Unlike EAN-13, it carries additional data alongside the GTIN – batch numbers, expiry dates, serial numbers, and weight – using standardised Application Identifiers. Many large UK retailers mandate GS1-128 on cases of short shelf-life products. Our variable data labels are designed for exactly this, where every label carries unique or changing information.
ITF-14 barcodes outer cases and cartons, encoding the product GTIN with a packaging indicator digit. It prints well on corrugated cardboard, making it practical for direct print-to-case work. EAN-8 is a compact version of EAN-13 for products too small to carry the full symbol. Our 1D barcodes guide covers all three formats in detail.
How to Get GS1 Barcodes in the UK
GS1 Barcodes UK – Joining the System
GS1 UK is the only authorised source of genuine GTINs for UK businesses. Membership starts from £50 per year excluding VAT for the smallest companies with up to ten product lines, scaling up based on annual turnover. When you join, you receive a Company Prefix and access to GS1 UK’s system for generating GTINs and downloading barcode images.
Major online marketplaces including Amazon, eBay, and Google Shopping verify product GTINs against the GS1 global database. Numbers from third-party resellers may fail that check, causing listings to be flagged or rejected. Buying direct from GS1 UK protects your product catalogue across every channel.
Once you have your GTIN allocation, the next step is getting them printed accurately onto labels that perform throughout the supply chain. Call us on 01332 864895 to discuss your print volumes, substrate requirements, and the right label specification for your products.
GS1 Sunrise 2027 – The Future of GS1 Barcodes UK Retailers Will Accept
Sunrise 2027 is a global GS1 initiative to transition retail point-of-sale systems from 1D barcodes like EAN-13 to 2D barcodes such as GS1 QR Code and GS1 Data Matrix. The target is 31 December 2027, by which all retail checkout systems must be capable of reading and processing 2D barcodes.
EAN-13 is not disappearing overnight. During the transition, GS1 recommends carrying both the 1D barcode and the new 2D symbol on the same packaging – dual labelling. From 2028, brand owners can choose to rely solely on 2D codes, but this remains optional.
Why GS1 Barcodes UK Businesses Should Plan Ahead
2D barcodes carry far more information than EAN-13 – expiry dates, batch numbers, serial numbers, and web links in a single scannable symbol. This enables more precise product recalls, better traceability, and richer consumer engagement at the till. Businesses that plan label redesigns now will avoid a scramble as the 2027 deadline approaches.
Positive ID Labels already produces GS1-compliant 2D barcode labels for customers preparing for Sunrise 2027. Our dedicated GS1 Sunrise 2027 guide explains the full timeline and what UK manufacturers should be doing now.
Frequently Asked Questions About GS1 Barcodes UK
What is the difference between a GTIN and an EAN-13 barcode?
The GTIN is the number – the 13-digit string that uniquely identifies your product in the GS1 system. The EAN-13 barcode is the printed symbol that encodes that number in machine-readable form. You need both: the GTIN comes from GS1 UK, and the label is printed by a specialist printer.
Can I use a third-party barcode reseller instead of GS1 UK?
Some businesses do, but it carries risk. Amazon, eBay, and Google Shopping verify product GTINs against the GS1 global database, and numbers that fail verification can cause listing problems. For retail and e-commerce, obtaining GTINs directly from GS1 UK is the safest approach.
How many GTINs do I need?
One per distinct product variant. Different sizes, colours, flavours, or packaging formats are all separate products, each needing its own GTIN. GS1 UK has an online calculator to help estimate how many codes your range needs before committing to a membership tier.
What print quality do GS1 barcodes UK labels need?
Bar edges must be sharp and consistently dense from top to bottom. Professional label printers like Positive ID Labels produce GS1 barcode labels at 600dpi to 1200dpi, comfortably meeting GS1 scanning standards. Label material matters too – the right substrate prevents ink bleed and keeps barcodes scannable in whatever conditions your products face.
Which GS1 barcode format should I use for outer cases?
ITF-14 is standard for outer case barcoding in UK logistics and retail supply chains. For short shelf-life products going to major retailers, GS1-128 is often mandated because it can carry batch and expiry date data alongside the GTIN. Our 1D barcodes guide covers both formats in detail.
Do I need to update my labels for Sunrise 2027?
Not immediately, but planning ahead is advisable. By December 2027, retail point-of-sale systems must be ready to scan 2D barcodes. GS1 recommends that during the transition your packaging carries both the existing EAN-13 and a new 2D symbol. Starting label redesign conversations now gives you time to test and iterate without compliance pressure.
Talk to Positive ID Labels About Your GS1 Barcode Labels
Positive ID Labels has been printing barcode labels for UK businesses across retail, food and beverage, logistics, and manufacturing for over 20 years. We understand what makes a barcode label scan reliably – from print resolution and substrate choice to the quiet zone dimensions GS1 requires.
Whether you need EAN-13 labels for a product launch, GS1-128 variable data labels for a retail supply chain, or guidance on Sunrise 2027 planning, we are ready to help. Visit our barcode labels and variable data labels pages, or contact us at sales@pid-labelling.co.uk or 01332 864895.
Positive ID Labels Ltd, Derby, UK.