Easily Check Your Products Using GS1 Barcodes

In today’s fast-paced market, consumers are more conscious than ever about the products they purchase. Barcodes, especially GS1 GTINs, offer a straightforward way to access detailed information about the products you buy. Let’s discover how to look up your products using these barcodes, ensuring you’re well-informed about what you’re purchasing.

What is GTIN (or simply Barcode)?

GTINs (Global Trade Item Number) are standardised identifiers used to uniquely distinguish products in the marketplace. Each GTIN consists of several elements, including a company prefix, an item reference number, a check digit, and sometimes additional information, such as a packaging indicator. For consumers, understanding the elements of GTIN can enhance their shopping experience by enabling them to know the company’s provenance,  fostering informed buying decisions.

GS1 is the sole official provider of GTIN in Hong Kong

Over one million businesses worldwide use GS1 barcodes and Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs), including major retailers and e-marketplaces such as Google, Amazon, eBay, and Tmall. Utilising GS1 barcodes not only enhances the cost-effectiveness of business operations but also expands access to a global customer base. Register now and obtain GS1 barcodes, opening the door to the global market for your products.
 

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How to Check Your Product Using GS1's Verified by GS1?

With the increasing importance of product transparency, consumers can now easily verify their purchases using the barcode found on the packaging. GS1's Verified by GS1 (VbG) service platform offers a straightforward way to access valuable information about products simply by entering the barcode. Here’s how you can use VbG to look up your products:

1. Locate the Barcode: Find the barcode on your product packaging. This is typically a series of vertical lines, accompanied by a series of numbers. The GTIN is usually found near the bottom of the barcode.
2. Visit the VbG Webste: Go to the GS1 VbG website (https://www.gs1.org/services/verified-by-gs1). You can easily find it by searching “GS1 VbG” in your preferred search engine.
3. Enter the Barcode: Input the GTIN number on your product into the search field. Make sure to enter the full number without any spaces or dashes.
4. Review the Search Results: Click on the search button to view the results. VbG will display whether the product has been registered, the company it was registered to, and information related to the company, including the company’s name, contact details, and website (if available).
5. Verify the Information: Use the details provided to verify the credibility of your product. Check for any discrepancies between what you see on the packaging and the information retrieved from VbG.

By following these steps, you can confidently access important insights about your products, helping you make informed choices as a consumer.

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Use GS1 1 QR

GS1 HK’s “1QR” product information platform comprises diverse information such as product specifications, incentives, certificates, track-and-trace*, authentication*, bringing a one-stop “scan & search” experience to consumers. It also enables brands to tap into big business opportunities of QR codes! 

Get all Critical Product Information with One Single Barcode

• After scanning “1QR”, consumers can get trusted product information simpler & faster from one platform, including latest discount offers, product information, track-&-trace and authentication

Buy Soundly & Use Safely

• All product information, including certificates and product authentication, are provided by a trusted source – brands, which in turn protects consumers.

• Products listed on the platform can be identified with unique “Product IDs” (i.e. barcodes starting with prefix “489”, meaning that the product is operated by a HK registered company). 

   

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Quick Tip: Check Your Product’s Country Code

Here’s a tip for you: if you want to quickly check where a product comes from, take a look at our handy list of country codes. By referencing this list, you can quickly identify the country associated with the barcode, giving you a general idea of where the product is registered. While this won't provide specifics about the manufacturing location, it serves as a useful starting point for understanding the origin of the products you encounter.

It's important to note that the country code embedded in a GTIN does not necessarily indicate the country of manufacture; rather, it reflects the country where the barcode was registered. It should not be taken as definitive proof of where a product was made.

Notes:
960 and 9610-9614 have been assigned to GS1 UK for GTIN-8 allocations.

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Conclusion

In summary, leveraging the power of barcodes, specifically GS1 GTINs, allows consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions. By accessing GS1's Verified by GS1, you can easily verify product details and establish their credibility. With the knowledge and tools provided in this article, you can shop with confidence, knowing that you have the resources to understand the products you choose.

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