EAN-13

EAN-13 is the main scheme used throughout world-wide for retail article numbering. It is a numeric only coding scheme. The > symbol in the right margin is a light margin indicator. In the left margin the first code digit is used as the margin indicator. No other marking should appear in the light margins.

 

   EAN-13

 

EAN-13 codes require 13 digits (12 if the check digit is calculated automatically). Numbers used for EAN article numbering are known as GTIN (Global Traded Item Numbers) assigned by the country’s GS1 organisation. All EAN/UCC 13 barcodes use a checkdigit based on a Mod 10 calculation.

EAN codes may contain 2 or 5 digit supplementaries:

 

                  EAN13+2

 

      EAN13+5

 

The ISBN coding scheme is EAN13, with the first three digits being 978 or 979, and until recently the 9 digits the ISBN number of the book (without the ISBN check digit). The final digit is the EAN calculated check digit. Since 2007 13-digit ISBN numbers have been issued and these contain the EAN check digit. (See also the ISBN entry below).

The ISSN coding scheme is EAN13, with the first three digits being 977, 7 digits showing the ISSN number of the periodical (without check digit), and 2 spare digits (used in the UK to indicate price code changes, but which are otherwise 00). The final digit is the EAN calculated check digit.

The ISMN coding scheme is EAN13, with the first three digits being 979, followed by 0 and the first 8 digits of the ISMN number. The final digit it the EAN calculated check digit.

The JAN coding scheme is EAN13 with the first two digits being 49.

Note that there is not a one to one correspondence between bars and the code numbers.

 

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EAN-8