Country Code Prefix

What is a Barcode Country Code Prefix (also called GS1 prefix)?

A barcode country code prefix is also known as a GS1 prefix. GS1 is a global company which issues and manages GTINs (barcode numbers). GS1 has regional offices around the world, and each regional office issues GTINs that start with a different series of digits called the GS1 country prefix (e.g. barcodes starting with 94 were assigned by GS1 New Zealand, and barcodes starting with 93 were assigned by GS1 Australia). There is no GS1 office in Tonga, and therefore no GS1 country prefix for Tonga.

A barcode country prefix only shows the country of origin of the barcode number, it does not show the country of origin of the product. The only thing that these first few digits show is which country the barcode number itself was originally issued in. It is completely okay (and very common) to use barcodes issued in one country on products that are produced or sold in another country. Please see GS1’s website about this.

Which Barcode Country Prefix do your barcodes have?

Our EAN-13 barcodes start with US prefixes (07 or 06) which indicate that they originally came from the USA. Our barcodes work fine in Tonga and in any other country in the world. We provide a Certificate of Ownership with every barcode purchase, which links your barcode and company together. We also provide free barcode and product registration on barcodesdatabase.org.

More Information

If you want to demonstrate that your product is made in your own country, e.g., Tonga, then the best way to do this is to print “Made in Tonga” or similar on the product. This is an advertising claim and must be provable if challenged. (Some manufacturers also print “Made in Tonga” directly above the barcode to help customers).

The myth of the barcode number showing the country of origin of the product has been thoroughly debunked. Please see this Snopes article on the origins of this misconception as well as a debunking of it.

All barcodes and barcode systems are designed for international use, so there are virtually no restrictions based on the country of origin worldwide. See our barcode acceptance page for an up to date list of the few shops worldwide that have barcoding restrictions.

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.

GS1 Country Prefix List:

Below is a list of country codes from GS1 organisations and other Standards Agencies around the world: