Bar codes, also known as EAN (European Article Number) codes, are standard markings used on products to identify them. GS1 – an international institution standardizing goods identification systems is responsible for their broadcasting. In Poland, its local unit operates – GS1 Polska.
Each bar code consists of several parts, of which the first digits – the so -called Prefix – indicate the country in which the company owned the code was registered.
What bar code does Polish products have?
Polish prefix is 590. This means that the company that has registered a given bar code did it in Poland via GS1 Polska. However, it is worth emphasizing that Prefix 590 is not synonymous with the place of production. It can only mean that the company is based or has been registered in Poland – not necessarily that the product has been created here.
Products with code 590 and production in Poland
In practice, this means that a product with a bar code 590 may be:
- produced in Poland by a Polish company,
- produced abroad by a Polish company (e.g. as part of outsourcing),
- manufactured by a foreign company that has daughter company registered in Poland and uses GS1 Poland codes.
Therefore, the bar code itself is not enough to be sure about the origin of the product.
How to check the origin of products?
To determine exactly where the product comes from, it is worth:
- Check the manufacturer – Information about the manufacturer can usually be on the packaging. You can also look for data on the Internet.
- Verify the GLN or GCP number – These are unique IDs assigned to companies by GS1. They can be checked in the GS1 Gepir database.
- Pay attention to the place of production – Some companies give a exact place of production on the label, e.g. “produced in Germany”.
- Use mobile applications – There are applications that show information about the manufacturer and the country of production after scanning the barcode.
POLAND bar code – what is worth remembering?
Although the bar code 590 is assigned to Poland, it does not guarantee that the product has been produced here. This is only an indicator of company registration in the GS1 Polska system. To be sure about the origin of the product, it is worth reaching deeper – checking the manufacturer, the place of production and possible capital connections (e.g. daughter companies of foreign concerns operating in Poland).
