Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find clear answers to common questions about buying, using, printing, and registering retail barcodes in Thailand and internationally. If you have any additional questions, please contact our support team.
Barcode Basics & Numbering Standards
What is a Barcode?
A barcode is a machine-readable visual image of vertical parallel black bars and white spaces representing a unique identification number (GTIN). Optical scanners at retail checkouts scan the bars to look up product descriptions, tax rates, and prices from the store’s point-of-sale computer database. In retail, the barcode is simply a 12-digit (UPC) or 13-digit (EAN-13) number encoded into a scannable graphic.
What is the Barcoding System?
The barcoding system is an international network for numbering and tracking consumer products using standardized GTIN codes. The system originated with the Uniform Code Council (UCC) in the USA in 1973 and expanded globally into the EAN (European Article Numbering) system. Today, retailers worldwide use automated optical scanning connected to computerized inventory software to manage stock counts, track sales, and process transactions quickly.
What Barcodes do you Supply?
We supply authentic 13-digit EAN-13 barcodes, 12-digit UPC-A barcodes, ITF-14 carton codes, ISBN book barcodes, ISSN magazine barcodes, and 2D QR codes. EAN-13 barcodes are the dominant retail standard across Thailand, Europe, Australasia, and globally, while UPC-A barcodes are standard for export into the United States and Canada.
What is the difference between UPC-A and EAN-13 Barcodes?
The primary difference is that UPC-A barcodes have 12 digits, while EAN-13 barcodes have 13 digits. UPC-A barcodes are standard in the United States and Canada, whereas EAN-13 barcodes are used throughout Thailand and the rest of the world. Both scan at store checkouts globally. An EAN-13 barcode with a leading zero has an identical bar pattern to a 12-digit UPC-A, meaning point-of-sale scanners read both seamlessly. See our UPC vs EAN-13 comparison guide for visual examples.
What Data is Encoded into My Barcode?
A barcode contains only a unique sequence of digits—no product title, company name, or price is encoded within the bars. The barcode graphic acts purely as a key. When you supply your products to retailers, they enter your barcode number, product title, and price into their store inventory software. When scanned at checkout, the scanner reads the number and the computer looks up your product details.
Do I need to submit product information when ordering barcodes?
No, you do not need to provide product names, Thai FDA numbers, ingredients, or photos at the time of purchase. Barcode numbers are delivered as clean, globally unique sequences of digits. You link your barcode to your product description and price inside your own inventory software or when submitting your supplier listing form to Thai retailers.
What Country Code (first digits) will your barcode have?
Our barcodes begin with ’07’, indicating original allotment in the United States prior to 2002. Country codes indicate initial number issuance origin, not where the product was manufactured. You can use our barcodes legally on any product made in Thailand or globally.
Does a barcode in Thailand have to start with 885?
No, your barcode does not need to start with 885 to sell products in Thailand. The 885 prefix is assigned by GS1 Thailand as a country office code, but retail scanners in Thailand and internationally read any valid 13-digit EAN-13 barcode (including numbers starting with 07). Major retail chains across Thailand—including 7-Eleven, Lotus’s, Big C, Tops, and Central—accept our international EAN-13 barcodes without requiring an 885 prefix.
Retailer Acceptance in Thailand & Worldwide
Do I need a Barcode for My Product?
Yes, if you plan to sell your products through physical retail stores or established online marketplaces in Thailand or abroad, having a barcode is required. Retailers mandate barcodes for automated checkout scanning, stock control, and inventory reordering.
Are your Barcodes suitable for all retail products?
Yes, our 13-digit EAN-13 barcodes work for virtually any consumer retail product sold in Thailand and internationally. Whether you sell packaged food, snacks, dried fruit, beverages, cosmetics, spa products, clothing, hardware, or electronics, standard EAN-13 barcodes are suitable. The only main exceptions are published books (which require ISBN barcodes) and periodicals such as magazines (which require ISSN barcodes).
Do Your Barcodes Work in Every Shop?
Yes, our barcodes are accepted by the vast majority of retail stores across Thailand and worldwide. Products using our barcodes are stocked in major retail chains in Thailand including 7-Eleven, Lotus’s, Big C, Tops Supermarket, Makro, and independent retail outlets. Read our Barcode Acceptance page for detailed information.
Do major supermarket and convenience chains in Thailand accept your barcodes?
Yes, our EAN-13 barcodes are accepted by major supermarkets and convenience store chains across Thailand, including 7-Eleven (CP ALL), Lotus’s, Big C Supercenter, Tops Market / Central Food Retail, Makro, and Gourmet Market. When listing your product with Thai retail buyers, you provide your barcode number on your supplier product sheet, and the store enters it into their POS system.
Can I use these barcodes on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop Thailand?
Yes, our EAN-13 and UPC barcodes work seamlessly on Shopee Thailand, Lazada Thailand, TikTok Shop, and Line Shopping. E-commerce platforms require standard unique GTIN/EAN barcodes to list branded products, create product catalogs, and avoid duplicate listing penalties.
Can I export Thai products to China, ASEAN, Japan, Europe, and the USA with these barcodes?
Yes, our barcodes are globally unique EAN-13 and UPC-A standards accepted in over 120 countries worldwide. Whether exporting Thai dried fruit, spa products, rubber, textiles, or packaged food to China, ASEAN members (Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam), Japan, Europe, Australia, or the Americas, our barcodes scan on all modern international point-of-sale systems.
How do barcode numbers relate to Thai FDA (อย.) registration numbers?
A barcode (EAN-13/GTIN) and a Thai FDA registration number (อย. / OYOR) are two completely separate identifiers that serve different purposes. The Thai FDA number proves regulatory safety compliance and licensing from the Ministry of Public Health, while the EAN-13 barcode is used by retail checkout scanners to identify the product SKU, price, and stock count. Both numbers typically appear together on consumer packaging in Thailand.
Do You Guarantee That All Shops Will Accept Your Barcode Numbers?
No, no barcode organisation—including GS1—can guarantee 100% acceptance by every single store worldwide. Retailers retain the legal right to set their own supplier policies. While our barcodes are accepted by the vast majority of retailers globally, a tiny minority of US retail giants (like Walmart and Kroger) require direct GS1 membership. Always check with your specific stockists prior to printing large packaging runs.
Quantities & Product Variations
How Many Barcodes Should I Get?
You need one unique barcode for each distinct product variation (SKU) that you sell. Each unique size, colour, flavour, or packaging format requires its own separate barcode so retailers can track inventory and reorder individual items accurately. For example, if you sell Thai coconut water in two sizes (250ml and 500ml) and two flavours, you require 2 flavours x 2 sizes = 4 barcodes.
Will My Barcodes Have a Company Prefix?
Yes, customers who purchase batches of 10, 100, or 1,000 barcodes receive numbers with a shared company prefix. Single barcode purchases do not include a custom company prefix. Read more on our Company Prefix page.
Can I re-use a barcode (GTIN) on a different product?
No, you must never reuse an allocated barcode number on a different product. Retailers store historical sales, price, and inventory data associated with barcode numbers. Reusing an old barcode on a new product causes inventory collisions, incorrect checkout pricing, and warehouse logistics confusion.
Ordering & Instant Delivery
How Do I Order a Barcode From Your Company?
Ordering barcodes takes only a few minutes online. Simply visit our Barcode Shop, choose your required quantity, add to cart, and proceed to checkout. We accept credit cards, PayPal, and international bank transfer. Your barcode numbers, vector graphics, and certificate are generated and emailed to you within minutes.
What Do I Do Once I Receive My Barcode?
You can immediately incorporate the barcode image into your product label or packaging artwork. When supplying retailers in Thailand or abroad, provide them with your barcode number along with your product title, size, and wholesale/retail price so they can register it in their point-of-sale inventory system.
Why Should I Purchase Barcodes From You?
We provide genuine, globally unique retail barcodes for a simple one-off price with zero annual fees. Key advantages include:
- Low cost: one-off payment starting at reasonable rates per barcode package, with significant bulk discounts.
- No ongoing annual renewal, subscription, or membership fees.
- Free high-resolution graphics included in SVG vector, PNG, and PDF formats.
- No restrictive contracts or complicated forms—you own the numbers for life.
- Instant automated email delivery 24/7.
Are GS1 the only supplier of barcodes in Thailand?
No, GS1 is not the only supplier of barcodes in Thailand. While GS1 leases numbers subject to annual membership fees, Barcodes Thailand provides authentic, legally verified EAN-13 barcode numbers for a simple one-off payment with lifetime ownership and zero annual fees.
How Can Barcodes Be Sold For a One-off cost?
We can sell barcode numbers for a one-off fee because our inventory derives from pre-2002 UCC allocations that were bought outright without recurring fees. In 2002, a landmark US class-action legal settlement confirmed that companies who purchased prefix numbers before August 28, 2002, held perpetual rights to them without owing annual renewal fees. We purchased surplus numbers from these allotments and now supply them to businesses individually at affordable rates.
Legality, Guarantee & Ownership
Will the Barcode Number I Buy Be Unique?
Yes, we guarantee that every barcode number we issue is globally unique and has never been assigned to anyone else. We provide a formal Guarantee Certificate of Ownership with every order and maintain strict database controls to prevent duplication.
Will My Barcode Ever Expire?
No, your barcodes will never expire. Once purchased, you own your barcode numbers permanently for life. We will never reallocate or issue your numbers to anyone else.
Will I ever have to pay Renewal Fees?
No, we do not charge renewal fees or annual subscriptions. All barcode purchases are single, one-off payments for perpetual ownership.
Will Your Barcodes Work Worldwide?
Yes, our barcodes work internationally in over 120 countries worldwide. EAN-13 is the global retail standard accepted across Thailand, ASEAN, Asia, Europe, Australia, the UK, and the Americas.
Registration & Databases
Will My Barcodes Be Registered in an Official Database?
No, individual barcode numbers are not stored in a single mandatory government database. When supplying retailers, you provide your product information directly for entry into their point-of-sale systems. We also provide free registration on the International Barcodes Database (IBNREG.org) to enhance product discoverability online and smartphone scan apps.
Will my barcode be registered in the GS1 Database?
Your number will be in the GS1 database but under the original ownership. GS1 will not update their database to reflect current ownership.
Printing, Dimensions & Advanced Symbologies
How Big Should My EAN-13 Barcode Be?
The nominal standard dimensions for an EAN-13 barcode are 37.3mm wide by 25.9mm high. The allowable magnification range is between 80% (approx. 30mm wide) and 200% (74.6mm wide). Maintaining sufficient height and side quiet zones (white margins) is essential for reliable checkout scanning. See our Barcode Sizing Standards page.
Can I Print My Barcode on a Coloured Background?
Yes, you can print barcodes in colour, provided there is sharp optical contrast between dark bars and a light background. Solid black bars on a white background are the international standard. Dark colours such as dark blue, dark green, or dark brown work well. However, red, yellow, and metallic foils will not scan under red laser beams. For full details, see our Barcode Colour Guide.
What is an ITF-14 carton barcode and do I need one for shipping boxes in Thailand?
An ITF-14 carton code is a 14-digit shipping barcode used on outer delivery cartons and wholesale master cases. It is created directly from your retail product’s 13-digit EAN-13 number. If you deliver wholesale boxes of multiple units to distribution centres like 7-Eleven or Lotus’s warehouses, an ITF-14 barcode allows warehouse scanners to check in stock without opening individual cartons.
What is a Global Location Number (GLN)?
A Global Location Number (GLN) is a globally unique 13-digit identifier. They identify physical business locations or delivery points in electronic supply chains. If your retailer or distribution network requires a GLN, you can order a GLN number here.
What is the Sunrise 2027 transition to 2D QR codes in Thailand?
Sunrise 2027 is the global retail transition from standard linear barcodes to 2D barcodes (GS1 Digital Link QR codes). These 2D barcodes allow checkout scanning at supermarket POS terminals while enabling consumers to scan with smartphones for batch traceability, expiry dates, and product authenticity. Standard EAN-13 barcodes remain fully supported during the multi-year transition.
History & About Barcodes Thailand
Who Invented the Barcoding System?
The Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode system was developed by IBM engineer George J. Laurer in the early 1970s. He created the 12-digit optical symbol that transformed global grocery and retail supermarket checkouts across the globe.
Why Was the International Barcodes Network Formed?
The International Barcodes Network was formed to provide small businesses and independent producers worldwide with an affordable, subscription-free alternative to expensive barcode leasing systems. With network licensees in over 120 countries, IBN ensures businesses can buy genuine barcodes for a simple one-off fee without recurring costs.
Explore our products and services:
Buy EAN-13 Barcodes
Buy UPC-A Barcodes
ITF-14 Carton Codes
Book Barcodes (ISBN)
Magazine Barcodes (ISSN)
QR Codes
Barcode Registration
