Administrative Measures for Product Barcodes (Amended in 2026)
Administrative Measures for Product Barcodes (Amended in 2026)
Administrative Measures for Product Barcodes (Amended in 2026)
Order of the State Administration for Market Regulation No. 127
February 28, 2026
(Issued by Order of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine No. 76 on May 30, 2005, and amended by Order of the State Administration for Market Regulation No. 127 on February 28, 2026)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 These Measures are formulated in accordance with relevant national regulations, to regulate the administration of product barcodes, ensure the quality of product barcodes, accelerate the application of product barcodes in such fields as e-commerce and commodity circulation, and promote the informatization of e-commerce and commodity circulation in China.
Article 2 For the purposes of these Measures, the term "product barcodes" refers to barcodes used to identify products. China shall adopt an internationally recognized product barcode identification system and establish a national product identifier system.
Article 3 The registration, coding, printing, application, and administration of product barcodes within the territory of the People's Republic of China shall be governed by these Measures.
Article 4 The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) shall be the competent authority responsible for the unified organization and administration of product barcode work nationwide.
Local market regulatory authorities at or above the county level shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of product barcodes within their respective administrative regions.
The SAMR shall designate a public-interest professional institution under its jurisdiction as the national technical body for product barcode work to undertake relevant technical support for product barcodes.
Provincial-level and sub-provincial-level market regulatory authorities may, as needed, designate a public-interest professional institution under their jurisdiction as the local technical body for product barcode work to undertake relevant technical support for product barcodes within their respective administrative regions.
Article 5 The company prefix is an essential component of product barcodes. Any entity or individual using product barcodes shall, in accordance with these Measures, obtain approval for registration and be granted a company prefix.
Chapter II Registration
Article 6 Producers, sellers, and service providers that have legally obtained a business license and relevant lawful business qualification certificates may apply for registration of a company prefix.
Where a subsidiary with independent legal-person status within a group company needs to use product barcodes, it shall separately apply for registration of a company prefix in accordance with regulations.
Article 7 Applicants for the registration of a company prefix (hereinafter referred to as the "applicants") may apply for registration at the local technical body for product barcode work in the place where they are located.
Applicants shall complete the Registration Form for GS1 China Membership, present their business licenses or relevant lawful business qualification certificates, and provide copies thereof.
Article 8 The local technical body for product barcode work shall complete the preliminary review of the application materials provided by the applicants within five working days.
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Order of the State Administration for Market Regulation No. 127
February 28, 2026
(Issued by Order of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine No. 76 on May 30, 2005, and amended by Order of the State Administration for Market Regulation No. 127 on February 28, 2026)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 These Measures are formulated in accordance with relevant national regulations, to regulate the administration of product barcodes, ensure the quality of product barcodes, accelerate the application of product barcodes in such fields as e-commerce and commodity circulation, and promote the informatization of e-commerce and commodity circulation in China.
Article 2 For the purposes of these Measures, the term "product barcodes" refers to barcodes used to identify products. China shall adopt an internationally recognized product barcode identification system and establish a national product identifier system.
Article 3 The registration, coding, printing, application, and administration of product barcodes within the territory of the People's Republic of China shall be governed by these Measures.
Article 4 The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) shall be the competent authority responsible for the unified organization and administration of product barcode work nationwide.
Local market regulatory authorities at or above the county level shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of product barcodes within their respective administrative regions.
The SAMR shall designate a public-interest professional institution under its jurisdiction as the national technical body for product barcode work to undertake relevant technical support for product barcodes.
Provincial-level and sub-provincial-level market regulatory authorities may, as needed, designate a public-interest professional institution under their jurisdiction as the local technical body for product barcode work to undertake relevant technical support for product barcodes within their respective administrative regions.
Article 5 The company prefix is an essential component of product barcodes. Any entity or individual using product barcodes shall, in accordance with these Measures, obtain approval for registration and be granted a company prefix.
Chapter II Registration
Article 6 Producers, sellers, and service providers that have legally obtained a business license and relevant lawful business qualification certificates may apply for registration of a company prefix.
Where a subsidiary with independent legal-person status within a group company needs to use product barcodes, it shall separately apply for registration of a company prefix in accordance with regulations.
Article 7 Applicants for the registration of a company prefix (hereinafter referred to as the "applicants") may apply for registration at the local technical body for product barcode work in the place where they are located.
Applicants shall complete the Registration Form for GS1 China Membership, present their business licenses or relevant lawful business qualification certificates, and provide copies thereof.
Article 8 The local technical body for product barcode work shall complete the preliminary review of the application materials provided by the applicants within five working days.
......