What is the difference between EAN and GTIN?

12/02/2023 11:59
Overall, each product has a unique identification code with respect to the variation or color, such as EAN, GTIN, etc. This code works as part of international standardization, but is there a difference between EAN and GTIN? We explain it to you in this post.
 
In short, the difference between EAN and GTIN is zero, or to be more precise, almost zero.
 
 
EAN is the 13-digit International Article Code used primarily outside of North America. On the other hand, GTIN is the 14-digit Global Trade Item Number and is used to identify products in different levels of packaging.
 
However, GTIN barcodes are just the name given to UPC and EAN barcodes today. In other words, there is no difference between EAN and GTIN, as both are the same.
 
The reality is that renaming the barcodes of a life to optimize a business has only confused consumers without being able to ban the original names.
 
 

EAN (European Article Number) and GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)

 
EAN stands for European Article Number. This is an attempt to replicate in Europe the system implemented in the United States called UPC (Universal Product Code), invented by George Laurer in 1969 and with 12 digits, predecessor of the 13-digit EAN barcode.
 
In 2005, the EAN organization merged with the UCC to form GS1, a universal association based in Belgium, which in turn renamed the barcodes to match its nomenclature, without substantially changing them.
 
The UPC (Universal Product Code) and EAN (European Article Number) barcodes have been called GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), so a GTIN-13 is nothing more than an EAN-13 and 'a GTIN-14 is nothing but an EAN-14 (or DUN-14).
 
How to check that there is no difference between EAN and GTIN?
The best proof of this is going to an Amazon seller account where the customer will be asked to provide the UPC/EAN/ASIN barcode, without mentioning the GTIN system, which appears in the help, even more confusing by mentioning the GS1 certificate.
 
At Barcodes UK 50, we have worked for years publishing all kinds of documents that explain this state of affairs to the user, and we continue to do so today, because many calls we receive ask us if we have GTIN or GS1 or UPC or JAN codes.
 
Is simple. If you need to send a product to market, you will need a universal product barcode, an EAN-13, although some would like to rename it GTIN-13.
 
There is no difference between EAN and GTIN, it is the popular barcode found on a supermarket sugar packet.
 
The interest of multinationals does not always coincide with that of a small business owner.
 

 

Back