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The International Article Number (EAN), also known as the European Article Number, is a standard barcode symbology and numbering system used globally to identify specific retail products.

Let's delve into its history and key components:

1. Origins and Purpose:

The EAN barcode system emerged in 1979 as a response to the need for a standardized product identification system beyond North America.

Initially, the Universal Product Code (UPC-A) was used primarily in the United States and Canada. However, as international trade expanded, a new format was necessary to facilitate sales in Europe and other regions.

2. Components of EAN-13:

The most commonly used EAN standard is the EAN-13, which is a superset of the original 12-digit UPC-A code.

An EAN-13 number consists of four components:

GS1 Prefix (Country Code): The first three digits identify the GS1 Member Organization to which the manufacturer belongs. It doesn't necessarily indicate the product's country of origin.

Manufacturer Code: A variable-length code assigned by the manufacturer.

Product Code: Another variable-length code specific to the product.

Check Digit: A single digit used for error detection.

EAN-13 barcodes represent only the digits 0¨C9.

3. EAN-8 and Supplemental Barcodes:

The less commonly used EAN-8 barcode was introduced for small packages where EAN-13 would be too large.

Additionally, there are supplemental barcodes:

EAN-2: A 2-digit barcode placed on the right-hand side of EAN-13 or UPC, often used in periodicals.

EAN-5: A 5-digit barcode also placed on the right-hand side, commonly used for weighed products like food to indicate the manufacturer¡¯s suggested retail price.

4. Japanese Article Number (JAN):

EAN-13 codes beginning with the first two digits '45' or '49' indicate a Japanese Article Number (JAN) follows.

JAN is used primarily in Japan and is compatible with EAN-13.

5. ISBN and EAN:

The EAN 'country code' 978 (and later 979) was allocated to reserve a Unique Country Code (UCC) prefix for EAN identifiers of published books.

This allows the EAN space to catalog books by their International Standard Book Number (ISBN) rather than maintaining a redundant parallel numbering system.

In summary, the EAN barcode system revolutionized global trade by providing a standardized way to identify retail products, regardless of their origin or packaging configuration.

What are EAN, UCC and GS1?

EAN, UCC and GS1 are all commodity coding organizations.

EAN is the European Article Numbering Association, UCC is the United States Uniform Code Committee (Now it is GS1-US), and GS1 is the Global Article Numbering Organization. It is the new name after the merger of EAN and UCC.

GS1 is the Global Article Numbering Organization. It is the new name after the merger of EAN and UCC. EAN is the European Article Numbering Association, UCC is the United States Uniform Code Committee.

Both EAN and UCC have developed a set of standards for using digital codes to identify goods, services, assets and locations. These codes can be represented by barcode symbols to facilitate electronic reading required for business processes.

GS1-128 barcode is the new name of UCC/EAN-128 barcode. It is a subset of the Code 128 character set and complies with the international standard of GS1.

UPC and EAN are both commodity codes in the GS1 system. UPC is mainly used in the United States and Canada, and EAN is mainly used in other countries and regions, but they can be converted to each other.

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Once you obtain a GS1/UPC/EAN barcode, or other barcode type and QR code, you can use our free software to batch print barcode labels onto Roll label paper using a professional label printer, or to batch print barcodes onto Avery 5160 label sheets using a regular laser or inkjet printer. Our software has free and paid versions.

The free version fully meets your needs for batch printing GS1/UPC/EAN barcodes. The paid version can import data from Excel and databases to batch print barcode labels with different values.

How to Use & FAQ:

Highlights

Excel integration: Import data directly from Excel to generate and print barcodes in bulk.

Label designer: Create complex labels with multiple barcodes, text, logos, and shapes.

Batch printing: Print thousands of barcodes at once using standard inkjet/laser printers or professional barcode printers.

Flexible editions:

Standard Edition: Simple batch printing with Excel data.

Professional Edition: Adds command-line automation for workflow integration.

Label Designer Edition: Advanced design features for complex labels.

Why Choose Our Barcode Solutions?

Cost-effective: Free online generator and permanent free desktop version available.

Easy to use: No technical expertise required—just input data and print.

Versatile: Supports nearly all 1D and 2D barcode types, including QR codes.

Trusted: Recommended by CNET and widely downloaded by users worldwide.

Suitable Use Cases

Small businesses and startups needing quick barcode labels for products.

Retailers and online sellers managing inventory with batch barcode printing.

Manufacturers requiring sequential or custom barcode labels for packaging.

Educational and testing environments where barcodes are used for tracking.