Who Uses EAN-8 Barcodes and Why It Matters

Who uses EAN-8?

The EAN-8 barcode is used by a variety of stakeholders across the retail and supply chain ecosystem. The most visible users are small-product manufacturers and label designers who need a compact barcode for packaging with limited space. Retailers and point-of-sale (POS) operators use EAN-8 during checkout to scan items quickly, update inventory, and process sales. Distributors and warehouse teams scan EAN-8 codes for receiving, picking, and cross-docking when those items move through logistics flows. Standards organizations and barcode resellers also engage with EAN-8 when assigning codes and ensuring they integrate with global product databases.

Specific roles and examples

• Manufacturers: Small consumer goods producers—such as makers of cosmetics, confectionery, small electronics accessories, and single-serve consumables—choose EAN-8 when product surfaces or packaging space are too limited for larger codes.
• Brand owners and designers: Packaging and label designers select EAN-8 to preserve aesthetic integrity of small products while keeping them scannable at retail.
• Retail buyers and cashiers: Store-level personnel scan EAN-8 at checkout. POS systems and scanners are configured to read EAN-8 alongside EAN-13 and UPC codes so sales and pricing flow correctly.
• Warehouse and logistics staff: When small items are sold in larger quantities (e.g., a blister pack of batteries), EAN-8 can appear on the inner package and still be scanned for receiving and inventory control.
• GS1 and national numbering authorities: GS1 organizations and their national affiliates coordinate issuance, manage country-specific prefixes, and provide guidance about when EAN-8 is appropriate.

Who assigns an EAN-8 number?

EAN-8 codes are issued by GS1 member organizations. Small manufacturers who cannot justify a full company prefix for EAN-13 can sometimes request a limited EAN-8 assignment depending on availability and local GS1 policies. In many regions, GS1 offers short codes for small businesses or can advise on other compact options such as UPC-E (in North America) or GS1 Digital Link alternatives.

Who benefits from EAN-8?

Everyone in the retail chain benefits: consumers benefit from faster checkouts, retailers benefit from accurate price lookup and inventory updates, and manufacturers benefit by having a scannable product identifier that supports distribution and shelf placement. Logistics technology providers, WMS/TMS implementers, and barcode printing vendors all rely on the predictable, compact format of EAN-8 when serving markets with space-constrained packaging.

Common stakeholder questions

• Can any business use EAN-8? Not automatically—EAN-8 codes are limited and typically reserved for very small items or issued under special arrangements by GS1. Small or new businesses often start with EAN-13 unless GS1 offers a short-code program.
• Who scans EAN-8? Standard barcode scanners used at retail and in warehouses can read EAN-8, and modern POS systems understand the lookup workflow so the scanned code maps to the correct product record.

Quick real-world examples

• A lipstick tube with limited label area carries an EAN-8 so it looks clean on the shelf and scans reliably at checkout.
• A small packet of chewing gum sold individually in convenience stores uses EAN-8 to avoid crowding the package with a larger barcode.
• National GS1 offices provide guidance to small craft producers on whether an EAN-8 or EAN-13 allocation is appropriate.

Practical tips

• If you are a small manufacturer considering EAN-8, contact your local GS1 organization to learn about eligibility and code availability.
• Ensure your packaging design leaves adequate quiet zone and contrast for scanning—space, not just the small size of the code, determines scan reliability.
• Coordinate with retail partners to confirm that their POS systems can accept EAN-8 and map it to the correct item master record.

In short, EAN-8 is used by the people who need a compact, standardized barcode: small-product manufacturers, packaging designers, retailers, logistics personnel, and standards bodies. Each plays a role in issuing, printing, scanning, and managing EAN-8 codes so small items can move fluidly through modern retail and supply chains.