1 Comment for I like to know the International Bar codes for food staff.?

• 1. synnimyn  |  March 3rd, 2006 at 8:41 pm

  EAN-13

  An EAN-13 bar code consists of 12 digits for the product code followed by a check digit.

  (A) The first 2 (sometimes 3) digits, which are called the “flag”, indicate in what country the bar code was issued. This “flag” does NOT tell you, however, in what country the product was produced. In this case, the bar code was issued in the UK. Click here for an authoritative list of country prefixes.

  (B) The next 5 digits indicate the supplier of the product.

  (C) Another 5 digits indicate the product.

  (D) The last digit is a check digit, which is used to make sure that the bar code reader at the checkout has read the product code correctly.

  EAN-8

  Some products – like a packet of chewing gum, for example – are not big enough to carry the full EAN-13 bar code. That’s why EAN-8, a shortened version of the EAN-13 code, was introduced. This type of bar code has only 8 digits: 2 or 3 digits are used for the country code and there’s also a check digit. This means that only 4 or 5 digits are allowed for the product code (#00000-99,999 or 100,000 products). Thus, only limited numbers of EAN-8 codes are given out in each EAN member country.

  (A) The country which issued the bar code is indicated by the first 2 (or sometimes 3) digits, called the “flag”. In this case, the code was issued in Spain. Click here for an authoritative list of country prefixes.

  (B) The next 5 digits identify both the manufacturer and the item.

  (C) The last digit is the checksum.

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