GS1 UK: Barcodes and Company Registration
Everything you need to know about GS1 UK: prefixes 50-59 and 500-509, membership pricing, retailer requirements, and a free EAN-13 generator for prototypes and testing.
GS1 UK is the British member organization of GS1 International. It assigns company prefixes 50-59 (legacy single-digit-after) and 500-509 — every EAN-13 from a UK-registered brand starts with one of these prefixes.
To sell in major UK retail (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Boots, Waitrose, M&S), on Amazon UK with Brand Registry, or via large distributors, your GTIN must be registered with GS1 UK. Membership is annual and tiered by turnover; the smallest businesses (turnover under £500k, 10 GTINs) pay around £130/year as of 2026.
For prototyping, internal testing, or low-volume eBay/Etsy sales without Brand Registry, you can generate a valid EAN-13 below for free. The Mod 10 check digit is computed automatically and passes syntactic validation.
FAQ
What is GS1 UK?
GS1 UK is the British member organization of GS1, the global standards body for product identification. Founded in 1976, headquartered in London. Issues GS1 company prefixes 50-59 and 500-509 to UK-registered businesses.
How much does a barcode cost in the UK?
GS1 UK charges annual membership tiered by company turnover and GTIN count. Smallest businesses (turnover under £500k, ≤10 GTINs) pay around £130/year (2026). Larger turnover or more GTINs scale up. Exact pricing at gs1uk.org.
Does Tesco require a GS1 UK code specifically?
Tesco requires a valid EAN-13 registered with any GS1 member. UK brands typically use GS1 UK; international brands use their local GS1. The 50-59/500-509 prefix isn't mandatory — what matters is the GTIN resolves in the GS1 global database.
Can I use a free-generated barcode for Amazon UK?
For Brand Registry sellers, Amazon verifies GS1 registration — generated codes get rejected. For standard seller accounts without Brand Registry, generated codes often work but the rejection rate climbs each year. For serious UK market entry, pay for GS1 UK membership.
Does prefix 50-59/500-509 guarantee UK origin?
No. The prefix indicates where the company registered, not where the product is made. A UK brand registering with GS1 US gets a US prefix (0-1, 06-13). Foreign brands can also register with GS1 UK.
Do I need to be a Limited company to register?
No. GS1 UK accepts sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies. You need a UK business address; private individuals (without business registration) cannot get a company prefix.