Many people mistakenly believe that the barcode country prefix – the first few digits of the barcode numbers show the country of origin of the product. However, the barcode number says NOTHING accurate about the country of origin of the product. The only thing that these first few digits show is the country of origin of the number. So in reality, products that come from the India can have any barcode number on them.
Barcode numbers beginning with 890 are the barcode numbers that come directly from GS1 India. That does not mean they are Indian barcode numbers. The myth of the barcode country prefix showing the country of origin of the product is an old myth that has been thoroughly debunked. Please see this article from Republic News on false claims that barcodes for products made in India start with 890.
The ONLY legal way to get numbers starting with 890 is to join GS1-India. This means completing their membership forms and paying a joining fee and annual membership fees to GS1 – which is VERY expensive (GS1 only license the numbers to you – so you have to pay their annual fees every year for the rest of your product life). You cannot legally buy barcodes starting with 890 from any other company other than GS1 India. Please be careful of fake sellers claiming to sell 890 numbers.
If you want to demonstrate that your product is made in India, then the best way to do this is to print “Made in India” or similar on the product.
All barcodes and barcode systems are designed for international use, so there are virtually no restrictions based on the country of origin world wide. Any specific examples of stores placing any restrictions on barcodes can be seen here.
We are a member of an international network of barcode sellers that have customers in more than 120 countries using our barcodes without any problems.
Barcode numbers beginning with specifically assigned country codes are the barcode numbers that come directly from GS1 in a specific country OR are issued by an official standards agency in that country.
Below is a list of country codes from GS1 organisations and other Standards Agencies around the world:
| 0 | USA / Canada |
| 1 | USA |
| 30–37 | France & Monaco |
| 380 | Bulgaria |
| 383 | Slovenia |
| 385 | Croatia |
| 387 | Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| 389 | Montenegro |
| 390 | Kosovo |
| 40–44 | Germany |
| 45 | Japan |
| 46 | Russia |
| 470 | Kyrgyzstan |
| 471 | Taiwan |
| 474 | Estonia |
| 475 | Latvia |
| 476 | Azerbaijan |
| 477 | Lithuania |
| 478 | Uzbekistan |
| 479 | Sri Lanka |
| 480 | Philippines |
| 481 | Belarus |
| 482 | Ukraine |
| 483 | Turkmenistan |
| 484 | Moldava |
| 485 | Armenia |
| 486 | Georgia |
| 487 | Kazakhstan |
| 488 | Tajikaistan |
| 489 | Hong Kong |
| 49 | Japan |
| 50 | United Kingdom |
| 520, 521 | Greece |
| 528 | Lebanon |
| 529 | Cyprus |
| 530 | Albania |
| 531 | Macedonia |
| 535 | Malta |
| 539 | Ireland |
| 54 | Belgium & Luxembourg |
| 560 | Portugal |
| 569 | Iceland |
| 570 | Denmark |
| 590 | Poland |
| 594 | Romania |
| 599 | Hungary |
| 600–601 | South Africa |
| 602 | Benin |
| 603 | Ghana |
| 604 | Senegal |
| 608 | Bahrain |
| 609 | Mauritius |
| 611 | Marocco |
| 613 | Algeria |
| 615 | Nigeria |
| 616 | Kenya |
| 618 | Côte d’Ivoire |
| 619 | Tunisia |
| 620 | Tanzania |
| 621 | Syria |
| 622 | Egypt |
| 623 | Brunei |
| 624 | Libya |
| 625 | Jordan |
| 626 | Iran |
| 627 | Kuwait |
| 628 | Saudi-Arabia |
| 629 | United Arab Emirates |
| 64 | Finland |
| 660 | Benin – issued by ANM Benin |
| 69 | China |
| 70 | Norway |
| 729 | Israel |
| 73 | Sweden |
| 740 | Guatemala |
| 741 | El Salvador |
| 742 | Honduras |
| 743 | Nicaragua |
| 744 | Costa Rica |
| 745 | Panama |
| 746 | Dominican Republic |
| 750 | Mexico |
| 754–755 | Canada |
| 759 | Venezuela |
| 760–769 | Schwitzerland & Liechtenstein |
| 770-771 | Colombia |
| 773 | Uruguay |
| 775 | Peru |
| 777 | Bolivia |
| 779 | Argentina |
| 780 | Chile |
| 784 | Paraguay |
| 786 | Ecuador |
| 789-790 | Brazil |
| 800–839 | Italy |
| 840–849 | Spain |
| 850 | Cuba |
| 858 | Slovakia |
| 859 | Czech Republic |
| 860 | Serbia |
| 865 | Mongolia |
| 867 | North Korea |
| 868–869 | Turkey |
| 87 | Netherlands |
| 880 | South Korea |
| 885 | Thailand |
| 888 | Singapore |
| 890 | India |
| 893 | Vietnam |
| 896 | Pakistan |
| 899 | Indonesia |
| 90–91 | Austria |
| 93 | Australia |
| 94 | New Zealand |
| 955 | Malaysia |
| 958 | Macau |
| 96 | GS1 Global Office: GTIN-8 allocations |
| 977 | Serial Publications (ISSN) |
| 978–979 | Bookland (ISBN) |
| 980 | Return Coupons (refund receipts) |
| 981–983 | Common Currency Coupons |
| 990–999 | Coupon Codes |