The barcode (barcode) was invented more than half a century ago and during this time managed to take root in almost all countries of the world. The information encrypted in it contains detailed information about the product and its manufacturer. Deciphering all 13 or 12 digits of the code is rather difficult for the average consumer, however, it is quite possible to find out the country in which the goods were produced.
Instruction manual
1
The most common is a 13-digit barcode, but along with it there is a 12-digit one, which is actively used in the United States and Canada. In addition, there are short 8-digit codes - they are typical for large products and are quite acceptable. Information about the country of origin is encrypted at the very beginning of the code - in the first two or three digits. Lists of bar codes of different countries can be found in the public domain on the Internet, however you can remember the codes of producing countries whose products are most often exported to our country.
2
The barcode of a product manufactured in the USA or Canada must begin with numbers falling in the range from 000 to 139. French products have a barcode starting with the numbers 300-379. Products from Germany can be calculated by the initial digits of the barcode falling in the range from 400 to 440. The barcode 450-459, as well as 49 belong to Japanese goods, and the barcode starting with the numbers 460-469 indicates that The product is made in our country.
3
The barcode of goods from Ukraine begins with a combination of the numbers 482, and Belarusian products are encrypted with the code 481. The barcodes of things made in the UK and Northern Ireland begin with the number 50 (500-509), and Norwegian products are marked with the number 70 (700-709) Barcodes of products manufactured in China must begin with the number 69 (690-695). Barcodes starting with a combination of the numbers 977, 978 and 979 must belong to periodicals, books and notes. For this group of goods, the country of origin is not indicated.
4
In case of inconsistency of the information from the barcode with the declared country of origin, do not rush to sound the alarm, but carefully examine the packaging. Perhaps this product was manufactured at one of the subsidiaries of the main manufacturer, located in another state. It is also possible that the founders of the enterprise are companies from several states at once, and only one of them is indicated on the barcode.
