Which barcode should you use: EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A or Code 128?
The first three are GS1 codes: a number that is unique worldwide, assigned to a company, and recognised by tills and marketplaces. Code 128 encodes whatever you choose and is meant for internal use.
| Format | Content | Use | Number obtained from GS1? |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | 13 digits, check digit included | Product sold in shops or through a reseller | Yes |
| EAN-8 | 8 digits, check digit included | Small pack where an EAN-13 does not fit | Yes |
| UPC-A | 12 digits, check digit included | Product sold in the United States or Canada | Yes |
| Code 128 | Letters, digits, punctuation | Internal reference (SKU), shelves, parcels, stock counts | No, you choose the text |
What does the 619 prefix mean?
In GS1’s official list, prefix 619 is assigned to GS1 Tunisia, so an EAN-13 starting with 619 was issued by the Tunisian organisation. GS1 points out that a prefix does not show the product’s country of origin: a GS1 Tunisia member can manufacture elsewhere.
Joining GS1 Tunisia gives you the right to use the 619 prefix and a unique company prefix, used to number your products, logistic units and locations. GS1 Tunisia, operating since 1992, is the only company approved by GS1 in Tunisia.
This generator draws any number, but it does not create a valid GS1 number: a made-up 619 code may belong to another company, and a retail chain or marketplace will reject it. For use inside your own shop only, GS1 reserves prefixes 200 to 299 for restricted circulation numbers, defined by each national organisation.
How do you get official EAN codes in Tunisia?
GS1 is the only official provider of GTINs and EAN/UPC barcodes. In Tunisia, the procedure published by GS1 Tunisia has three steps, followed by numbering your products:
- Register with GS1 Tunisia to get your licence to use the GS1 system.
- Log in to the GS1 Tn Activate platform, fill in the membership file and submit it. The list of required documents is published on the procedure page.
- A GS1 Tunisia agent contacts you to complete the membership.
- Once you have your company prefix, number each product: prefix, item number, then the check digit. Type the first 12 digits above and the generator computes the check digit.
GS1 Tunisia also offers a check digit calculator and a "who owns this GTIN?" lookup to check an existing number.
How much does GS1 Tunisia membership cost?
GS1 Tunisia publishes a scale based on the company’s annual turnover. Amounts excluding VAT, as read on 22 October 2026:
| Category | Annual turnover | Annual fee | Entry fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Craftsperson (individual) | 300 TND excl. VAT | 100 TND excl. VAT |
| B | Under 100,000 TND | 500 TND excl. VAT | 200 TND excl. VAT |
| C | 101,000 to 200,000 TND | 550 TND excl. VAT | 200 TND excl. VAT |
| D | 201,000 to 300,000 TND | 650 TND excl. VAT | 250 TND excl. VAT |
| E | 301,000 to 400,000 TND | 750 TND excl. VAT | 250 TND excl. VAT |
| F | 401,000 to 500,000 TND | 900 TND excl. VAT | 300 TND excl. VAT |
| G | 501,000 to 650,000 TND | 1,000 TND excl. VAT | 350 TND excl. VAT |
| H | 651,000 to 800,000 TND | 1,100 TND excl. VAT | 400 TND excl. VAT |
| I | 801,000 TND to 1 million TND | 1,200 TND excl. VAT | 400 TND excl. VAT |
| J | 1 to 3 million TND | 1,300 TND excl. VAT | 450 TND excl. VAT |
| K | 3 to 5 million TND | 1,400 TND excl. VAT | 500 TND excl. VAT |
| L | 5 to 10 million TND | 1,500 TND excl. VAT | 600 TND excl. VAT |
| M | Over 10 million TND | 1,750 TND excl. VAT | 750 TND excl. VAT |
GS1 Tunisia adds a 120 TND contract registration fee on top of the annual fee and the entry fee. Check the scale on GS1 Tunisia’s page before joining: it can change.
Code 128: the right choice for internal references
To scan products in your stockroom, count stock or pick orders, you do not need a GS1 number: print your own reference (SKU) as Code 128. It encodes letters, digits and punctuation, and ordinary barcode scanners and scanning apps read it.
Keep references short and unaccented (LINEN-DRESS-M rather than "Linen dress size M"), avoid double spaces, and use the same pattern for every variant. A short reference gives a narrower code, easier to scan on a small label.
As soon as a product goes to a reseller or a marketplace, it needs a real GS1 EAN-13: Code 128 stays inside your business.
To price these products, use the margin calculator, and to get them online quickly, read our guide to adding products to your store.
How do you print a label sheet?
- Choose the format and set the bar height and module width at the top of the tool.
- Paste your codes into "Label sheet", one per line, with a caption after a semicolon if you want one.
- Choose how many labels per row, from 2 to 5, to match your label size.
- Click "Print the sheet" and print at 100%, not "fit to page".
- Scan one label with a scanner or a phone before printing the whole stock. If it does not read, increase the module width or the bar height.
The GS1 Tunisia information was checked on 22 October 2026 on its official pages. For special cases (weighed products, medicines, logistic units), ask GS1 Tunisia.