EAN International: Organization, Tasks, and
Influence on Global Barcode Standards

In the world of automatic identification and data capture, EAN International has played a central role. As the organization responsible for developing and enforcing international standards for product identification, EAN International ensured the establishment of unified systems that are used worldwide in trade, logistics, and industry. In Germany, GS1 Germany GmbH serves as the central issuing office and official provider of EAN numbers (European Article Number, abbreviation EAN), which are the standard for uniquely identifying products and trade items.

Today, the organization operates under the name GS1, coordinating global standards that simplify information exchange between companies, accelerate processes, and reduce costs.

This article highlights the history, functions, and significance of EAN International, with a special focus on barcodes and RFID systems, which also play a key role in the industrial environment of Plöckl Media Group (PMG).

What is EAN International?

EAN International (European Article Numbering Association) was founded in 1977 in Brussels to create a unified barcode system for European trade. EAN is the abbreviation for European Article Number and refers to the 13-digit EAN number, which serves as a unique identifier for products. The goal was to introduce a standardized product identification system compatible with North American UPC codes (Universal Product Code).



In 2005, EAN International merged with the U.S.-based Uniform Code Council (UCC) to form GS1, a global non-profit organization that provides worldwide standards for identification and data transfer systems.

Tasks of EAN International / GS1

The main mission of EAN International—continued by GS1—is the development, maintenance, and dissemination of global standards for:

• Barcode systems such as EAN-13, EAN-8, and GS1-128
• RFID standards for automatic and contactless identification
• Data structures for electronic data interchange (EDI)
• Product and location identifiers such as GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) and GLN (Global Location Number)



GS1 Germany acts as the central issuing body for EAN numbers and GTINs, coordinating their allocation for trade items and products.

Different types of EAN codes exist, such as EAN-13 and EAN-8, which are used depending on application and packaging requirements in both brick-and-mortar and online trade.

These standards enable companies worldwide to uniquely identify products and efficiently exchange information across the supply chain.

Functionality and Practical Importance

The EAN-13 barcode, developed by EAN International, is one of the most well-known and widely used barcodes worldwide. It consists of:

• Country prefix (GS1 prefix)
• Manufacturer number
• Product number
• Check digit

The structure of the 13-digit EAN-13 code ensures that each digit sequence uniquely identifies a product. The EAN-13 barcode is machine-readable and used at supermarket checkouts, in retail systems, and in e-commerce for product sales and packaging.

Example: By searching for an EAN number in a database, a product can be uniquely identified since each EAN barcode corresponds to only one specific item.

In practice, these codes are scanned at checkouts, in warehouses, or on production lines to automatically transfer data into ERP, warehouse, or logistics systems. In RFID systems, GS1 expands these standards with Electronic Product Codes (EPC), which can be read via RFID tags.

Advantages of Standardization by EAN International

The introduction and worldwide establishment of EAN standards provide companies with numerous benefits:



• Global compatibility: Unified identification systems facilitate international trade and logistics.
• Increased efficiency: Automated capture reduces manual work and errors.
• Traceability: Unique product identification enables complete supply chain transparency.
• Cost reduction: Standardized systems lower implementation and operational costs.
• Integration: Fully compatible with IT, ERP, and warehouse systems.

Compliance with GS1 standards and the use of EAN numbers is a requirement for listing trade items in retail.

Example: In supermarkets, EAN codes are printed on product packaging to be scanned at checkout, allowing the price to be recorded automatically. Both in physical and online retail, EANs and GTINs enable unique product identification, database searches, and efficient article management.

EAN International And RFID

While barcodes remain a core element of product identification, GS1 has actively advanced the development of RFID standards. RFID technology enables contactless information capture over longer distances without line of sight. By combining EAN/GS1 coding with RFID, additional benefits arise:

• Faster data capture in logistics
• Bulk scanning of entire pallets
• Real-time tracking of goods
• Integration into IoT systems

Example: Using EAN codes in combination with RFID technology allows for the automatic identification of products in retail and logistics.

Future of EAN International / GS1 Standards

Even in the era of digital transformation, barcode and RFID standards remain essential. Future developments are expected to focus more on digital twins - digital representations of physical products. GS1 is also working on extended data formats that store additional information such as expiration dates, batch numbers, or sustainability labels directly in the code.

This expanded use of GS1 data formats will play a key role in product identification and enable new use cases in digital databases and product information systems.

Conclusion

EAN International—today known as GS1—laid the foundation for efficient, error-free, and globally compatible goods and information flows through the development and worldwide adoption of standardized identification systems.

The importance of these standards is evident in the use of EAN numbers and barcodes for global product identification. Whether barcode or RFID, these standards remain a cornerstone of modern logistics, manufacturing, and retail systems.

Plöckl Media Group (PMG) supports companies in integrating GS1-compliant barcode and RFID solutions, ensuring smooth processes and maximum efficiency in labeling and data capture.