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GS1 Canada — Barcode Registration Guide for Canadian Businesses
Last updated: April 2026
Canadian businesses that sell physical products at retail — in Canadian grocery stores, pharmacies, or mass merchandise retailers, or on Amazon, Walmart, or any other major marketplace — need a GS1-registered GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) on every product. In Canada, GTINs are issued by GS1 Canada, the Canadian member organisation of the international GS1 standards body. This guide explains the full registration process, how GS1 Canada prefixes compare to GS1 US prefixes, how to assign GTINs to your products, and how to generate the barcode images from those numbers.
GS1 Canada vs GS1 US — What Is the Difference?
This is the most common question Canadian product sellers have. The answer is straightforward: for practical barcode purposes, there is no meaningful difference. Both GS1 Canada and GS1 US issue Company Prefixes in the same global 0-prefix range. A GTIN-12 issued by GS1 Canada produces a UPC-A barcode that is functionally identical to one issued by GS1 US — it scans at the same retail checkout systems, is accepted on the same marketplaces, and is stored in the same global GS1 product database.
| Property | GS1 Canada | GS1 US |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix range issued | Standard 0-prefix range | Standard 0-prefix range |
| Barcode format produced | UPC-A (GTIN-12) | UPC-A (GTIN-12) |
| Accepted at US retailers (Walmart, Kroger, Target) | Yes | Yes |
| Accepted at Amazon US | Yes | Yes |
| Accepted at Amazon CA | Yes | Yes |
| Accepted at Canadian retailers (Loblaws, Sobeys, Shoppers) | Yes | Yes |
| GS1 GEPIR validation (Amazon/Walmart check) | Pass — registered to your company | Pass — registered to your company |
| Annual membership fee | Paid to GS1 Canada (CAD) | Paid to GS1 US (USD) |
| Prefix managed by | GS1 Canada (Ottawa) | GS1 US (Lawrenceville, NJ) |
The only reason to choose one over the other is where your business is based and which organisation you want to maintain a membership with. If your business is incorporated in Canada, register with GS1 Canada. If incorporated in the US, register with GS1 US. You do not need to register in both countries regardless of where you sell.
Step-by-Step: Registering with GS1 Canada
Go to gs1ca.org and click Get Barcodes. GS1 Canada's membership packages are based on the number of unique products (GTINs) you need to identify. Select the package that covers your current catalogue with room to expand — you cannot change your prefix later, only purchase an additional one. Packages range from 10 GTINs to 100,000+ GTINs.
Complete the registration form. Provide your legal business name exactly as it should appear in GS1's global registry — this is the name Amazon and Walmart will validate your listings against. Discrepancies between the name you register under and the brand name on your listings are the leading cause of marketplace listing rejections.
Pay the membership fee and receive your Company Prefix. GS1 Canada charges a one-time registration fee plus an annual renewal fee. After payment, you receive your Company Prefix — a sequence of 6 to 10 digits that is permanently assigned to your business. This prefix is the foundation of every GTIN you will ever assign.
Assign Item Reference Numbers to each product. Append a unique item reference number to your Company Prefix for each distinct product variant. The combined prefix + item reference must total 11 digits before the check digit is added. Keep a spreadsheet recording every assignment — this is your private GTIN register.
Generate barcode images with BatchPrintGTIN. Select UPC-A, enter your 11-digit prefix + item reference, and the generator appends the check digit and renders the barcode. Download as SVG for packaging artwork or PNG at 300 DPI for label printing.
Optionally register your products in GS1 Canada's product registry. GS1 Canada provides access to the GS1 Registry Platform where you can formally publish your product descriptions, images, and specifications against each GTIN. This strengthens GTIN validation at retailers and makes your products discoverable by retail buyers sourcing through GS1's global database.
Understanding Your GS1 Canada Company Prefix
Your Company Prefix length determines how many GTINs you can generate. GS1 assigns shorter prefixes (fewer digits) to companies that need more GTINs, and longer prefixes to companies that need fewer. The total of prefix digits + item reference digits always equals 11 before the check digit:
| Package size | Prefix length | Item reference digits | Total unique GTINs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 GTINs | 10 digits | 1 digit | 10 |
| 100 GTINs | 9 digits | 2 digits | 100 |
| 1,000 GTINs | 8 digits | 3 digits | 1,000 |
| 10,000 GTINs | 7 digits | 4 digits | 10,000 |
| 100,000 GTINs | 6 digits | 5 digits | 100,000 |
Choose your package based on the total number of unique product variants you expect to sell under this brand — not just your current catalogue, but the number you may reach over the next several years. Each size, colour, flavour, and configuration is a separate variant requiring its own GTIN. A clothing line with 10 styles in 5 sizes and 4 colours each needs 200 GTINs. A food brand with 6 SKUs in 3 sizes needs 18 GTINs.
Selling Cross-Border: Canadian GTINs at US Retailers
Canadian businesses frequently ask whether their GS1 Canada barcodes will scan and validate correctly when selling in the US. The answer is yes — with no additional registration required.
When Walmart US, Amazon US, or any US retailer validates a GTIN, they query GS1's global GEPIR database. GEPIR contains records from all GS1 member organisations worldwide including GS1 Canada. Your Canadian Company Prefix and its registered company name will appear correctly in GEPIR for any US retailer or marketplace system performing validation. The prefix country of issue does not affect where the product can be sold.
The UPC-A barcode generated from a GS1 Canada GTIN scans at US grocery checkout identically to one generated from a GS1 US GTIN — retail scanners do not distinguish between them. Major Canadian brands including those found at US retailers use GS1 Canada prefixes on products sold throughout North America.
Canadian Retailers — Barcode Requirements
The major Canadian grocery and pharmacy chains — Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, Shoppers Drug Mart, Jean Coutu, Dollarama, and Canadian Tire — all require GS1-registered UPC-A or EAN-13 barcodes on products supplied to their distribution centres. The barcode requirements are consistent with GS1 General Specifications: minimum 80% of nominal size, 300 DPI minimum print resolution, black bars on white background, quiet zones maintained.
Walmart Canada uses the same barcode validation system as Walmart US — GTINs must be GS1-registered to the submitting brand. Amazon.ca (Amazon Canada) accepts both GTIN-12 and GTIN-13 for product listings, consistent with other Amazon marketplaces.
Generating GS1-Compliant Barcode Images
Once you have your Company Prefix and item reference numbers assigned, use BatchPrintGTIN's GTIN Builder tab for the most efficient workflow. Enter your GS1 Canada Company Prefix, add your products with labels, and the Builder generates all UPC-A barcodes simultaneously. Export as a CSV (containing full GTIN, prefix, item reference, check digit, and label for each product) for import into your systems, plus a ZIP of PNG or SVG barcode images for print production.
For individual barcodes, use the single generator — select UPC-A, enter your 11-digit number (the check digit appends automatically), and download as SVG for your packaging designer or PNG at 300 DPI for label printing. For shipping cartons, use ITF-14 to encode a GTIN-14 derived from your same Company Prefix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register with GS1 US if I sell in the United States?
No. A GS1 Canada Company Prefix produces GTINs that are accepted everywhere GS1 US GTINs are accepted — including US retail chains, Amazon US, Walmart US, and Google Shopping US. You register once, with either GS1 Canada or GS1 US based on where your business is incorporated, and your barcodes work globally. There is no need to register with both.
Can I use the same barcode in Canada and the US?
Yes. A UPC-A barcode generated from a GS1 Canada GTIN scans correctly at Canadian and US retail checkout, is accepted on Amazon CA and Amazon US, and is valid on Walmart Canada and Walmart US. One GS1 Canada registration covers you for all North American retail channels.
What is the GS1 Canada annual fee?
GS1 Canada's fees change periodically. Visit gs1ca.org for current pricing. Fees are charged in Canadian dollars and include an initial registration fee plus an annual renewal fee to maintain your prefix and access to GS1 Canada's registry platform. The fee scales with the size of the prefix package you purchase.
I am a small business with fewer than 10 products. Is there a cheaper option than GS1 Canada?
GS1 Canada is the only organisation that can issue GTINs that pass Amazon, Walmart, and major retailer GTIN validation. Third-party barcode resellers offer pre-assigned UPC codes at lower prices, but these codes are registered to the reseller's company name — not yours — in GS1's database. Amazon, Walmart, and Google Shopping all validate GTINs against GS1's registry, and a brand-name mismatch causes listing rejection. For retail and marketplace use, GS1 Canada registration is required regardless of catalogue size.
How long does GS1 Canada registration take?
Online registration through gs1ca.org is typically completed the same day — you receive your Company Prefix by email after payment is processed. Complex applications or applications requiring manual review may take a few business days. Once you have your prefix, you can begin assigning GTINs and generating barcode images immediately.