Registering a GS1 Barcode for Your Business: A Full Guide

Registering a GS1 barcode lets a business place globally recognised codes on its products so they can be scanned in retail and tracked through the supply chain. In Vietnam, barcodes are issued by GS1 Vietnam, and companies obtain a company prefix that they then use to number their own products. This guide outlines the process from start to finish.

Before you apply

Preparation makes the application smoother. Businesses typically need:

A valid business registration or equivalent legal document.
An estimate of how many products they will code, which determines the prefix length.
Company contact and payment details.

The registration steps

The general process runs as follows:

Prepare the application and supporting documents for GS1 Vietnam.
Submit the application and choose an appropriate company prefix length.
Pay the one-time registration fee.
Receive the assigned company prefix, which begins with the Vietnamese country prefix 893.
Create individual product numbers within the prefix and generate EAN-13 barcodes for each item.

After registration

Once registered, the business must maintain its records and pay the annual maintenance fee to keep the prefix active. It should also keep an accurate list of the products assigned to each code and update GS1 data as its product range changes.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues barcodes in Vietnam?

GS1 Vietnam is the national organisation authorised to issue GS1 company prefixes and barcodes.

What does the company prefix let me do?

It lets you create unique numbers for your own products, each of which becomes an EAN-13 barcode starting with the 893 prefix.

Is there anything to pay after registration?

Yes. An annual maintenance fee keeps the prefix valid; failing to pay it can lead to suspension.

How LTV Law helps

LTV Law guides businesses through the entire GS1 barcode registration process, from preparing documents to obtaining the company prefix and managing renewals; to begin, contact our team.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.