GS1 Kenya|The Global Language of Business
Left-Aligned Button Navigation

How to Get GS1 Barcodes

Unlock Global & Local Markets with GS1 Barcodes

In today's fast-moving supply chain and digital economy, barcodes are essential for getting your products onto shelves both in stores and online. From supermarkets, pharmacies, customs and wholesalers to global e-commerce platforms, every product needs a unique identifier to ensure smooth sales, inventory tracking, and distribution.

GS1 Kenya - an affiliate to GS1 global - is the only authorized provider of GS1 barcodes in Kenya, the same standardized global barcoding system trusted by retailers, manufacturers, exporters, and logistics companies in over 150 countries across multiple sectors.

barcode
✓
Global trade compliance
✓
Seamless listing in retail & e-commerce systems
✓
Improved inventory management
✓
Globally unique identification
✓
Authenticity and credibility

Whether you are a startup launching your first product or an established manufacturer scaling across borders, GS1 Kenya will guide you through the full process of registering, generating, and verifying your barcodes the right way.

One Global Standard. Infinite Possibilities.

As GS1, we do not sell barcodes, we license globally unique identifiers through annual subscription and support you in implementing them across your operations, systems and processes. This enables businesses to trade efficiently, accurately, and confidently within a unified and globally recognized standards system.

Step-by-Step Guide: Getting Your GS1 Barcodes

1 Become a GS1 Kenya Member

To access GS1 barcodes, the first step is to become an official member of GS1 Kenya. Membership gives you access to globally recognized identification tools, including your unique GS1 Company Prefix used to create barcodes (GTINs) for your products.

What you will need to register:

To complete your membership application, please prepare the following documents:

  • Certificate of Business Registration or Incorporation
  • CR12/CR13 not older than 6 months
  • Company KRA PIN Certificate (Issued by the Revenue Authority)
  • Company Trade License
  • Director's Identification:
    • KRA PIN Certificate
    • Copy of National ID or Passport
  • Proof of Business Address:
    • Utility bill or bank cheque
  • Product List:
    • Brand Names, Product descriptions, net weight, Unit of measure, country of sale etc.
Begin Registration
2

Get Your GS1 Company Prefix

After your membership application is approved, GS1 Kenya assigns you a GS1 Company Prefix - a globally unique identifier that becomes the foundation of your product identification system.

This prefix links your business to every product you identify, allowing your barcodes to be recognized and accepted worldwide.

GS1 Company Prefix structure

How GS1 Company Prefix becomes part of a barcode

Why It Matters

Your GS1 Company Prefix ensures that:

  • All your product barcodes are globally unique and trusted
  • Your items can be scanned and recognized by retailers, distributors, and marketplaces worldwide
3

Assign GTINs to Your Products Using the Self-Service Portal

With your GS1 Company Prefix issued, you are now ready to create Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs), the unique numbers that form the foundation of your product barcodes.

Through the GS1 Kenya Self-Service Portal, you can easily generate and manage GTINs for each of your products in a secure, standardized, and globally recognized way.

GS1 Kenya Self-Service Portal interface

User-friendly interface

What is a GTIN?

A GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is a globally unique identifier used to distinguish each product, including its size, flavor, color, or packaging type. It's the number encoded into a barcode, ensuring your product is recognized anywhere in the world - in stores, warehouses, or online.

Note: Every distinct product or variation requires its own GTIN.

How to Assign GTINs in the Portal

The GS1 Kenya Self-Service Portal makes it easy to:

  • Input product details such as brand name, product description, net weight etc.
  • Automatically generate valid GTINs based on your Company Prefix
  • Organize and manage your product catalogue in one centralized location

The portal handles GTIN formatting and check digit calculation for you - no manual effort required.

Why Accurate GTIN Assignment Matters

Assigning GTINs correctly ensures:

  • Unique and traceable identification for each product
  • Compatibility with retail, wholesale, and e-commerce systems
  • Compliance with both local and international trade requirements
  • Better inventory, pricing, and sales tracking

Important: GTINs are permanent. Once assigned to a product, a GTIN must never be reused for a different item - even if the original is discontinued.

Once your GTINs are in place, you can download the barcode images and apply them to your product packaging.

Key: Remember to share samples of your product packaging for barcode verification before mass production.

Proper barcode placement on product packaging

Reach Out

As part of your membership with GS1 Kenya, you are entitled to annual training on GS1 Standards basics and GTIN management. Contact us for more.


What else can we help you with?

Archive Management

Explore

Asset Management

Explore

Consultancy

Explore

Visitor Access Management

Explore