申请产品条码须知！何时需为产品应用新的香港489条码？

Are you looking to get GS1 barcodes starting with “489” for your products? GS1 Hong Kong is the only organisation authorised by GS1 to issue GS1 barcodes (GTINs) in Hong Kong. Each barcode is globally unique, helping you list your products more easily on retail shelves and online platforms, while also enabling real-time inventory management.

But it’s not just new products that require a barcode. There are other scenarios where assigning a new GS1 barcode is necessary — and understanding when to do so is key to keeping your supply chain running smoothly. Learn more about when you need a new barcode, how the “489” prefix works for Hong Kong products, and how to get your products to market faster with our guide.

After purchasing products for checkout at supermarkets, the staff will scan GS1 barcode on products with a barcode scanner. The retail POS system can thereby obtain accurate product information and product price, offering consumers with accurate and convenient shopping experiences. Let’s take a look on products with GS1 barcodes around you, you will find the following features of barcodes:

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• Quiet zones(clear spaces before the first bar and after the last bar)  
  signal barcode readers when to start and stop decoding.
• GS1 Prefix (i.e. the first 3 digits of barcodes) 
  assigned by the GS1 member organisation that allocated the barcode number. GS1 barcodes can only be issued by GS1 Hong Kong in Hong Kong, and start with “489”.
• GS1 Company Number and Item Reference  
  - Companies with less than 1,000 trade items: assigned a 6-digit GS1 Company Number
  - Companies with 1,001 - 10,000 trade items: assigned a 5-digit GS1 Company Number
  - Companies with more than 10,000 trade items: assigned a 4-digit GS1 Company Number
• Check digit  
  Ensure the data integrity of barcode number, so the barcodes can be scanned and data can be captured accurately.

A unique product barcode must be assigned when launching new products. Additionally, you need to assign a new GS1 “489” product barcode to existing products in the following situations:

1. Change in Ingredients/ Components

If there is a change in the ingredients or formulation, a new “489” product barcode is required. For example, if a product’s sugar content is reduced by about 50%, and became a “low-sugar” food, another product barcode is needed.

2. Change in Dimensional or Net Content

Any changes (increase or decrease) on the dimensions of a trade item or the weight, volume, or quantity, a new “489” product barcode needs to be assigned. For example, if the product packaging material is changed from a transparent plastic bottle to glass bottle, resulting in a 20% increase in weight, or if the net weight of a packet of biscuits increases from 600 grams to 690 grams, or if a toothbrush pack quantity reduces from 6 to 5.

3. Same Style but in Different Colors/Sizes

If a clothing item of the same style is produced in different sizes and colors, each variation in style, color, or size is considered a different product. Therefore, a different GS1 489 product barcode is required.

4. Change in Packaging for a Promotional Product

If there’s change in product packaging in seasonal events such as special holiday promotions, or limited-time offers,  such as featuring a Christmas tree design, adding promotional messages, or with complimentary items, a new product barcode must be assigned.

5. Change in the Printed Product Price on Packaging

If a brand prints the product’s price on the packaging and the printed price changes, a new product barcode is needed for the product. Therefore, it is not recommended to print the retail price directly on the packaging.

For inquiries about the application and allocation of GS1 Hong Kong 489 barcodes, please contact us. In addition, we also offer FREE barcode & digital workshops, barcode symbol testing & membership enquiry services.

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Regardless of where the products were manufactured or sold,  brand owners selling product shall get barcodes from GS1. Therefore, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and even  wholesalers who redesign and repackage imported products can all contact us to get a GS1 product barcode with product prefix “489”.

GS1 offers various GS1 barcodes powered by GS1 Standards. In addition to GS1 barcodes widely used on products, different industries can also apply GS1 barcodes for unique identification of products & logistics, which can be used in retail stores and supply chains to enhance logistics efficiency & supply chain traceability, or even to meet regulatory requirements.

GS1 barcodes used by various industries:

1. Retail and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)

GS1 Product barcodes facilitate the accurate identification of products, so product price & information can be accurately captured by barcode scanner & retial POS system for inventory & sales management. Major global e-commerce platforms also require merchants to provide GS1 barcodes (GTIN, Global Trade Item Number) when listing products to effectively manage products and enhance consumers’ shopping experience. 

2. Food & Food Services 

GS1 2D barcodes can be used for food management. For example, GS1 DataMatrix can store product batch numbers, expiration dates, weights, and other relevant information. In the event of a food safety incident, manufacturers can leverage the barcode for food recalls.

3. Healthcare

The GS1 barcode (GS1 2D barcode) can store information about an item's batch number and expiry date. Utilizing the GS1 2D barcode can ensure patient safety by identifying and capturing data on medicine, medical devices, vaccines etc.

4. Transport & Logistics

GS1 barcodes (GS1-128 and ITF-14) powered by SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) can be used for identifying logistics unit to track product & information flow.  This empowers businesses to obtain visibility of product information at every location, including the point of production, sales points, return points, and any other relevant locations.

想申请产品条码吗？在香港，GS1 HK是唯一在香港获GS1授权发出以「489」开头条码的机构。每一个GS1条码都是独一无二，可助您将产品于全球零售点和电商平台上架，并随时追踪商品库存。除了推出新产品需要申请GS1条码外，甚么情况需要为产品编配新的条码？一文详解申请489条码及香港条码应用等实用资讯，让您更快将产品推出市场！

拆解GS1 489产品条码的基本知识

在店铺将购买的商品带到收银处时，店员熟练地用条码扫描器扫描条码，结账系统就可自动获得商品资料及价钱，为消费者带来精准又便利的购物体验。随手拿起你身边印有GS1条码的商品，可以见到以下样貌：

申请香港489条码

GS1 Key: 独一无二的GS1国际货品编码

● 条码左右两侧必须留有空白区域，避免影响条码判读。 

● GS1地区字首（即条码的首3位数字）

由GS1授权批出的地区编码，香港地区编码是489，仅由GS1 Hong Kong获GS1官方授权发出。

● GS1公司编号、产品参考编号

- 贸易货品少于1,000件的公司，会获得6位数字的GS1公司编号

- 贸易货品为1,001 – 10,000 件的公司会获配5位数字的GS1公司编号

- 贸易货品超过10,000件的公司会获配4位数字的GS1公司编号

● 终检码  

确保条码数字组合正确，GS1条码能被读取。 

甚么时候需要为产品编配新的产品条码？

当有新产品推出，就需要为它们编配独一无二的货品编码。除此之外，以下几个情形也为原先的产品重新编配产品条码。

1. 产品配方变更

当产品的原料或配方改变，就必须为产品编配一个新的产品条码。例如：将产品中的糖份减少50%，产品变成「低糖」产品。

2. 产品尺寸或淨含量改变

当产品的尺寸，或包装内的产品重量、体积、数量增加或减少，或有所不同时，就需要为此产品编配一个新的产品条码。例如：产品的包装从透明胶樽更换为透明玻璃瓶，产品重量增加了20%；一包零食的淨重量从600克增加到690克；一包牙刷组的牙刷数量从6支减少到5支。

3. 同款式但拥有不同颜色、尺寸

举例一件同款衣服可以有不同尺寸、颜色。只要任何款式、颜色以及尺寸不同，都视为是不同的产品，需要编配不同的产品条码。

4. 限时促销产品

若产品包装因季节性、特殊节日，或一段限时优惠档期而产生变化，例如包装上印有圣诞树的图案、印在包装上的促销文字、附加在产品上的赠品等，都需要额外编配新的条码。

5. 更改包装上印有的产品价格

品牌把产品的定价直接印在包装图片上，当包装上的定价更改，品牌则需要重新为产品编配新的条码，因此建议不要将产品预售价格印在包装上。

有关于香港489条码申请、编配查询，欢迎联络本会。同时，本会亦提供免费条码工作坊、条码测试、会员查询服务予企业。

申请香港489条码

只有产品需要申请GS1条码吗？哪些行业也需要申请GS1条码？

不论产品在何地生产，销售该产品的公司需要负责为产品向GS1申请条码。因此生产商、供应商、零售商，或将进口产品重新包装的批发商等，都可以向本会申请489开头的GS1产品条码。

GS1提供多种建基于全球标准的GS1条码。除了常见用于产品上的GS1条码外，不同行业都可以用到不同GS1条码为产品、物流做独有识别，在全球各地的零售点及供应链上应用，提高物流效率及供应链上的追踪追溯能力，甚至是符合监管要求。

不同行业常用到的GS1条码：

1. 零售及快速消费品

货品编码(barcode) 可以透过准确识别产品，让扫描器读取正确产品资讯及价钱，并加速结帐流程，同时方便管理库存、销售管理。全球大型电商平台亦要求/建议商家上架货品时须使用GS1条码（GTIN，国际贸易货品编码）作为产品识别码，有效管理产品及为消费者带来更佳购物体验。 

2. 食品及餐饮服务 

GS1 2D条码可以用于食品管理上，例如GS1 DataMatrix可以载有产品批次编号、到期日、重量等。当有食物安全事件发生时，生产商可以根据条码识别回收该批次食品。

3. 医疗护理

GS1条码（GS1 2D条码）载有产品批次编号、有效日期连接，识别并撷取有关药物、疫苗、医疗仪器资料，保障病人的健康安全。

4. 运输及物流

载有SSCC (货运容器序号)的GS1条码（GS1-128及ITF-14条码）可以识别物流单元，追踪产品的流向及资讯，让商家可以全面掌握货品在生产、销售点、退货点等任何位置资讯。

3步申请香港条码，为产品加上GS1 Barcode

香港货品编码协会 (GS1 HK) 是唯一在香港获授权发行全球认可 UPC、EAN、GTIN 及其相关条码的机构。申请流程十分简单，只需要三个步骤即可完成条码申请流程，于您的产品上应用范例、国际通用产品编码。我们还可以提供产品测试服务，确保您的产品能够被扫描器准确读取。

步骤1：填写申请表 

您需要先注册成为 GS1 HK 会员才能获得 GS1 条码。请填妥申請表格并提交处理。如有任何疑问，请填写申请条码查询表格、致电 2863 9701 或 WhatsApp 5122 7144。我们会安排专人提供协助。

步骤2：准备所需文件 

申请时需提交以下文件：

•    已填写妥当的申请表格
• 贵公司的香港商业登记证副本
• 员工的证明文件，例如员工保险文件或强积金证明书
• GS1 香港会籍费用付款凭证 

步骤3：提交申请并等待审批

GS1 HK 条码的申请流程十分简单，在正确提交申请及所需文件后，一般处理时间约为 3 至 5 个工作天。确实批核时间可能会因为申请量及额外验证流程而有所变动。为确保流程顺畅，我们建议尽早申请并确保填写的资料完整准确。

申请获批后，您将得到属于您公司的 GS1 公司前置码（Company Prefix），并可以使用我们的「BarcodePlus」平台随时生成产品条码。我们建议在打印产品前，先提交予本会进行条码测试，确保条码被扫描、读取状况良好，让零售结账系统能够读取产品资讯。

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