Sourcing glossary
GS1 barcode
Also known as: GTIN, UPC, EAN, GS1 Company Prefix, GS1 바코드
A retail barcode that encodes a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) built from a GS1 Company Prefix licensed to the brand owner, such as a 12-digit UPC or 13-digit EAN.
The GS1 Company Prefix identifies your company as the owner of the product numbers, so for a private-label product the brand owner, not the Chinese factory, should license it. From it you create a GTIN for each product variant (GTIN-12/UPC mostly in North America, GTIN-13/EAN elsewhere) and GTIN-14 codes for outer cartons.
Send the factory final barcode artwork and check print size and scannability on the pre-production sample. Reusing a supplier's own barcodes, or cheap resold numbers, can leave your listings tied to someone else's company. See custom packaging from China.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Trade terms
EXW vs FOB vs DDP: Which Incoterm to Use When Buying from China
EXW, FOB and DDP compared for China imports: who pays each cost, where risk transfers, and which term suits first-time buyers vs experienced importers.
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Fairs
How to Plan a China Sourcing Trip: Cities, Itinerary, Visas
Plan a 5–7 day China sourcing trip: cities by product, a sample Guangzhou and Yiwu itinerary, visa-free entry rules, mobile payments and a factory checklist.
Updated 2026-09-26 · 6 min read
QC
AQL Explained: How Pre-Shipment Inspection Sampling Works
What AQL means in product inspection, how sample sizes are chosen, and which AQL levels importers typically set for critical, major and minor defects.
Updated 2026-09-26 · 3 min read
E-commerce
China Dropshipping Agent vs AliExpress: Which to Use and When
AliExpress dropshipping vs a China fulfillment agent compared on product cost, delivery time, branding, quality control and stock, plus clear signs it's time to switch.
Updated 2026-09-25 · 6 min read
Private label
Custom Packaging from China: Options, Printing, MOQs and Labels
How to order custom packaging from China: poly bags, colour boxes, mailers and inserts, printing methods, MOQs, dielines, barcodes and origin marking.
Updated 2026-09-24 · 5 min read
Compliance
CE, UKCA, FCC and CPC: Product Certifications for Imports from China
What CE, UKCA, FCC and the US Children's Product Certificate mean, which products need them, who is responsible, and how to check a supplier's certificate.
Updated 2026-09-22 · 7 min read
Part of Amazon FBA & Dropshipping.