International Article Number (EAN)
International Article Number GTIN-13 number encoded in EAN-13 barcode. The first digit is always placed outside the symbol; additionally a right ">" indicator is used to indicate a "Quiet Zone" that is necessary for barcode scanners to work properly. An EAN-13 barcode (originally European Article Number , but now renamed International Article Number even though the abbreviation EAN has been retained) is a 13 digit (12 data and 1 check) barcoding standard which is a superset of the original 12-digit Universal Product Code (UPC) system developed in the United States . [1] The EAN-13 barcode is defined by the standards organization GS1 . The EAN-13 barcodes are used worldwide for marking products often sold at retail point of sale . The numbers encoded in EAN-13 bar codes are product identification numbers, which are also called Japanese Article Number ( JAN ) in Japan . All the numbers encoded in UPC and EAN barcodes are known as Global Trade I