For the past 46 years, GS1 US (formerly the Uniform Code Council) has been the identification standards organization that administers UPCs allocations. Up until now, GS1 made licensing a brand-specific Company Prefix mandatory for companies who wanted to identify their products with UPC. Their cost structure was extremely harsh for small companies who might not need more than a handful of UPC barcodes. We are happy to announce that GS1 now enables small companies the option of purchasing legitimate Single UPC barcodes without licensing a Company Prefix and paying on-going renewal fees.
GS1 Single UPC Barcodes- New Option
- Economical solution for new companies with only a few products
- No Renewal Fees!
- GS1 provides the GTIN assignment(s) directly to you.
- Digital .eps barcode provided immediately
- Both a brand and product description are identified in the GS1 Global Database so retailers/marketplaces, such as Amazon, can verify ownership.
UPCs with Company Prefix vs. GS1 Single UPCs
A unique GS1 (UPC) Company Prefix is the building block for most companies to assign UPCs to their products. Unlike arbitrarily assigned individual GS1 US UPCs (above), the UPCs available with licensed Company Prefix all begin with the same beginning numbers. It is important to keep in mind that each product and variant (size/color) requires a unique UPC barcode, which identifies that particular product.
- Unique UPC Company Prefix only identifies only your company
- Cost-effective for companies with over 9 products
- Company Prefix and UPCs (GTINs) registered in GS1 Database
Certain industries, product types, trading partners, and applications require a brand licensed UPC Company Prefix and single GS1 US UPC barcodes should not be used. The following are a few examples;
- Medical devices and pharmaceutical products
- Variable measure products (i.e. produce, small hardware parts, wholesale ingredients)
- Coupon Use – The GS1 Databar Coupon barcode requires brand-specific Company Prefix
- Products packed in mixed cases – Certain industries and retailers require suppliers to pack multiple product types in inner/outer packaging – Click Here For More Information
Whereas GS1 is simply the standards numbering organization, Bar Code Graphics is the US authority on barcodes and UPC implementation. The GS1 Barcode Service provides the actual .eps barcodes AND personal assistance with UPC GTIN assignments and product data uploads.
Single UPCs: Select Number of UPC Barcodes Required
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GS1 US UPC Barcodes- FAQs
What is the real significance of a GS1 Company Prefix?
The basis of the GTIN identification system works of unique company identifiers assigned to each company. GS1 global is a standards organization that oversees the numbering and guidelines for product identification. There are local GS1 offices in over 104 countries whose primary role is to license GS1 Company Prefixes to companies within their country. In the US, GS1 US is the local office. The uniqueness of brand-specific GS1 Company Prefix allows products to be accepted and recognized across the globe. Each country establishes its own pricing rules for licensing GS1 Prefixes, which are normally based on the total number of products a company needs to identify.
Retailers and marketplaces mandate that their suppliers have a GS1 Company Prefix licensed to their brand. Up until now, suppliers had no other choice but to get a brand-specific Company Prefix. We expect that over the new few months, many retailers may re-review their requirements.Since correct and unique production identification is critical to retail supply chains, major retailers and online marketplaces verify their suppliers’ UPCs against the GS1 Global Registry and they do not accept UPC barcodes without correctly licensed prefixes or GS1 US UPCs. The GS1 Prefix licenses provide denominations in;1-10, 1-100,1-1000,1-10000,1-100,000, For exact pricing for US company, please click here.
Can a company begin with single GS1 UPCs and later license a GS1 Company Prefix, if needed?
This is quite common and the new standards management portal enables companies to now mix different types of GTIN assignments. Your GS1 Barcode Consultant can assist with determining the most economical strategy to meet your company’s needs.
How Many UPC Codes do I Need for my Products?
Each individual product that you are planning on selling will need its own unique UPC Code. Each variant of a product will require a unique UPC so products of different size and colors will each be unique represented with an individual UPC. Please visit https://www.barcode-us.info/how-many-upcs/ for detailed information.
CALL (800)662-0701 X250 or use CHAT for assistance
At Bar Code Graphics, we define a GS1 UPC Barcode as one which correctly contains a GS1 Company Prefix or is single GS1 US assigned GTIN. There is a tremendous amount of incorrect information advertised online for cheap UPC codes, and companies really need to understand the severity of the problems which may occur if they are enticed by cheap alternatives. They need to either license a GS1 Company Prefix associated with their company or obtain single GS1 US UPCs. The size of the GS1 Company Prefix they license is dependent on the number of items they need to identify. Please visit this educational page to learn more about UPC and how some companies provide resold UPCs. https://www.barcode.graphics/education-upc-symbols/.
