Glossary Term
EAN (European Article Number)
A standardized 13-digit barcode used globally (primarily outside North America) to identify retail products. It is a subset of the GTIN system.
The Global Standard
While the US uses the UPC, the rest of the world (Europe, Asia, etc.) uses the EAN-13. If you are selling globally, you’ll need to be familiar with these. Amazon accepts both, but they will eventually convert them into their own internal ASIN and FNSKU system for warehouse tracking.
EAN-13 Structure
An EAN-13 consists of a country code, a manufacturer code, and a product code. It’s essential for listing products that aren’t already in the Amazon catalog. Without a valid GS1-registered EAN or UPC, you may face listing suppression.
- 13 digits vs. the UPC’s 12 digits.
- Accepted by Amazon, Walmart, and eBay.
- Crucial for international brand expansion.