There is no truth to the wives tale, that barcode numbers in Australia include the country of origin.

When a manufacturer buys barcode numbers, they typically buy 1000 at a time. And when this happens, the first nine digits are the registrar and company number, the following three digits are the item reference, and the last digit is a check digit. There are no country of origin digits in Australian GS1 barcodes.

Country of origin

But it is law here in Australia, that the country of origin must appear – but it is complicated.

• Grown in is generally used for fresh food but can also apply to other products and means the product was grown in the stated country though it may have been packaged or processed elsewhere
• Product of means that the product was grown/caught/raised and processed in that country
• Made in means the product was made in the stated country with at least half of the production cost incurred there even if it was simply packed or the ingredients were sourced elsewhere

It’s important to note that each significant ingredient and the majority of processing must have occurred in the country of origin in order to use “grown in” or “product of”.

Here are the detailed country of origin guidelines as stipulated by the ACCC (the official regulatory body in Australia).

More barcode information

Here’s more barcode standards information, such as:

• Do I need a barcode on my packaging?
• What barcode type do I need?
• What do barcode numbers mean?
• What is a barcode check digit?
• Where to buy barcodes?
• How do I allocate my item reference numbers?
• How do I get the barcode image for my artwork?
• Barcode formats
• Barcode testing
• Barcode sizes for point-of-sale use
• Barcode location on packaging
• Barcode colours for POS

The post Barcode country of origin myth appeared first on Creative Passion.

The importance of barcode standards

If you misprint barcodes or don’t follow barcode standards accurately, retailers can reject your product/s, which will force costly reprinting, repackaging and resupply. So make sure you know and comply with standards.

Do I need a barcode on my packaging?

If your product/s are being sold by major retailers in Australia, then there’s no doubt you need barcodes on your products for inventory and (point-of-sale) price scanning.

What barcode type do I need?

The most common barcode for retail sales in Australia is called EAN-13, and it’s registered through GS1 registrars.

We recommend you check with your retailer before ordering or printing barcodes.

What do barcode numbers mean?

• The registrar and company number are the first 9 digits, and the next 3 digits are the item reference
• Typically a company licenses 1000 barcode numbers (or 100,000)
• Please note: If you have different product sizes, colours, flavours, weights or styles, then you’ll need to use a different barcode for each one
• The last digit is a check digit (see below for more information)

What is a barcode check digit?

Want to know if your barcode number or artwork are correct? The last digit of EAN-13 barcodes is a check digit. It uses an algorithm to validate the accuracy of your barcode number or barcode artwork.

Here’s a check digit calculator.

Where to buy barcodes?

• If you search online, you’ll find companies which sell cheap one-off EAN-13 barcode numbers. The benefit (aside from being cheap) is that they sometimes claim not to charge annual fees. Negatives include: If this company isn’t reputable, then they may have sold this barcode to someone else. The barcode doesn’t include a unique company prefix (see below).
• Major retailers in Australia may require that you have a unique company prefix (which is only available through GS1 Australia). They require this because it helps them to identify your products, and manage warehousing/distribution logistics. This typically involves licensing 1000 barcode numbers. You’ll need to pay annual fees to continue using these barcode numbers.

How do I allocate my item reference numbers?

Once you’ve been provided your barcode number range, you can allocate your item reference numbers in any manner you like.

• Allocate your item reference numbers sequentially, starting at 000
• Allocate your item reference numbers using product sizes

How do I get the barcode image for my artwork?

It’s strange, but GS1 licenses barcode numbers to your company, but they don’t provide the actual artwork for each barcode. Reputable printers and designers can source the barcode artwork on your behalf.

Barcode formats

Barcode artwork can often be sourced in bitmap formats (like JPG, BMP and TIF), but any reputable designer will tell you that an EPS format barcode will yield the best print results because it can be scaled to any size and print at the printer’s optimum resolution.

Barcode testing

If you’re selling through major retailers, then it’s vital your barcode scans correctly. Imagine the inconvenience to retailers if your product doesn’t scan properly, and then imagine the cost of pack redesign, reprinting, repacking and replacing stock.

Testing includes checking the printed barcode:

• Is the correct barcode number
• Uses the correct check digit
• Is the correct height and width
• Colour and background colour are suitable
• Is located properly of the pack
• Maintains the correct clear margins on the left and right
• Print quality

Barcode sizes for point-of-sale use

It depends on the retailer’s barcode scanning system, but the recommendation from GS1 is that barcodes are used between 80% and 200%.

There are clear space requirements for the left and right of your barcode (to optimise scanning). If you obtain your barcode from a reputable source, then this “quiet zone” will be embedded in the artwork.

Barcode location on packaging

• Some retailers require that you include the barcode in multiple places on your packaging (we recommend that you check with your retailers)
• The official recommendation is that you place your barcode on the lower right quadrant on the rear of your packaging
• Of course you also need to keep in mind your packaging type and processes – especially packaging seams and print registration

Barcode colours for POS

The colour of your barcode and the background can cause retailer scanners to mis-scan.

Recommended colours (in order of preference):

• Black barcode on a white background
• Black barcode on a light background
• Dark barcode (not red or orange) on a light background

Non-scannable barcodes include:

• White barcode
• Red or warm colour barcode

See below for barcode print recommendations.

Barcode printing

• If using CMYK lithographic printing, then we strongly recommend you consider printing the barcode using the black (and don’t use a tint or combination of colours)
• If using spot colour lithographic printing (inks which are mixed by the printer), then you should consider printing the barcode using the a dark colour (but not red or orange)
• If you’re screenprinting or pad printing direct onto a product or pack, then choose a dark colour (but not red or orange) and don’t use screens or tints of the colour
• If you’re laserorthermal printing onto products, labels or packaging, then use a dark colour (but not red or orange), and print at 100% colour density (do not use tints or screens for the barcode colour)

Barcode labels

Labels can be preprinted or thermally printed on-site. Barcode labels which are separate to other labelling are typically used:

• When there’s restricted space on packaging
• To distinguish different product colours, flavours or other variations
• For food barcodes which incorporate “use by”, batch numbers and/or usage instructions

Barcodes on products

• Barcodes printed directly onto products (typically via screen or pad printing) are applied during manufacturing before distribution and packaging, often for high-volume products where it’s highly cost-effective

Barcodes on packaging

• If your packaging has to be printed to incorporate branding, instructions and country of origin, then this is a cost-effective way to incorporate your barcode (because barcode labels and barcodes directly on products are an additional cost)

Need barcode artwork designed with precision and passion? Call 3366 8166 or contact us for packaging you can trust to scan and sell.

Information provided is general in nature – confirm barcode requirements directly with GS1 Australia or your retailer.

The post Barcode standards explained appeared first on Creative Passion.