{
 "url": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/guides/first-product-identifier-small-business",
 "title": "Your First Product Identifier: GTIN, SKU, Barcode, EAN and UPC",
 "description": "Do you need a barcode or GTIN for a new product? Separate SKU, GTIN, EAN, UPC and the barcode carrier, then follow the right first-identifier sequence.",
 "territory": "impl",
 "category": null,
 "direct_answer": "Do not start by buying or printing a barcode. Start by asking **what is already identifying the product and who owns that identity**.",
 "last_verified": "2026-09-07",
 "verified_label": "Last verified",
 "datePublished": "2026-09-07",
 "dateModified": "2026-09-07",
 "legislation": [
  {
   "@id": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/digital-product-passport#legislation-32024r1781",
   "celex": "32024R1781",
   "name": "Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, ESPR",
   "legislationDate": "2024-06-13"
  }
 ],
 "primary_sources": [
  {
   "url": "https://support.gs1.org/support/solutions/articles/43000734404-what-is-the-global-trade-item-number-gtin-",
   "name": "GS1, What is the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)?"
  },
  {
   "url": "https://support.gs1.org/support/solutions/articles/43000734124-what-is-the-difference-between-a-gs1-gtin-a-barcode-an-ean-and-a-upc-",
   "name": "GS1, What is the difference between a GS1 GTIN, a barcode, an EAN and a UPC?"
  },
  {
   "url": "https://www.gs1.org/industries/selling-online",
   "name": "GS1, Get your GTIN for selling online"
  },
  {
   "url": "https://www.gs1.org/services/verified-by-gs1",
   "name": "GS1, Verified by GS1"
  },
  {
   "url": "https://www.gs1uk.org/about-us/membership/get-a-barcode",
   "name": "GS1 UK, Get a barcode"
  },
  {
   "url": "https://ref.gs1.org/standards/genspecs/",
   "name": "GS1, GS1 General Specifications"
  }
 ],
 "glossary_terms": [
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#data-carrier",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#digital-product-passport",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#economic-operator",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#espr",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#granularity",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#gs1",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#gs1-digital-link",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#gtin",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#qr-code",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#resolver",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#sku",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#unique-product-identifier"
 ],
 "watch": [],
 "decisions": [],
 "alternates": {
  "html": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/guides/first-product-identifier-small-business",
  "markdown": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/guides/first-product-identifier-small-business.md",
  "json": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/guides/first-product-identifier-small-business.json"
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}