Editing Universal Product Code (section)

=== EAN-13 ===
{{Main|International Article Number}}

The [[International Article Number|EAN-13]] was developed as a [[subset|superset]] of UPC-A, adding an extra digit to the beginning of every UPC-A number. This expanded the number of unique values theoretically possible by ten times to 1 trillion. EAN-13 barcodes also indicate the country in which the company that sells the product is based (which may or may not be the same as the country in which the good is manufactured). The three leading digits of the code determine this, according to the [[List of GS1 country codes|GS1 country codes]]. Every UPC-A code can be easily converted to the equivalent EAN-13 code by prepending 0 digit to the UPC-A code. This does not change the [[check digit]]. All [[point-of-sale]] systems can now understand both equally.

[[EAN-8]] is an 8-digit variation of the EAN barcode.

UPC usage notes:
* All products marked with an EAN will be accepted in North America currently, in addition to those already marked with a UPC.
* Products with an existing UPC do not have to be re-marked with an EAN.
* In North America, the EAN adds 30% more codes, mainly by adding digits 10 through 12 to the UPC digits 00 through 09. This is a powerful incentive to phase out the UPC.