Recently, some messages have been circulating, claiming that any product without a barcode
starting with "600" is fake or illegal. This is completely false and can confuse shoppers. Here’s
the truth:
Products made or packaged in South Africa have barcodes starting with "600," thanks to
GS1 South Africa. However, products from other countries will have different barcode
numbers. Just because a barcode doesn’t start with "600" doesn’t mean the product is
fake or illegal.
GS1 South Africa is a member organisation of GS1 Global, whose responsibility is to
issue country code for barcode. These prefixes start from 1 to 9. GS1 Global has 118
member organisations around the world whose responsibility is to issue barcode for their
respective country. South Africa in particular has 600-601
Companies in South Africa using the GS1 barcodes – which are issued by GS1 South
Africa – are assigned a prefix based on the country code. For example, South African
member companies have prefixes of 600 while for example companies in the UK have
prefixes that start with 500 – 509 to confirm which country codes belong to which country
visit this link https://www.gs1.org/standards/id-keys/company-prefix
While locally produced products are assigned the 600 prefix barcodes by GS1 South
Africa a member organisation of GS1, there are nevertheless other imported products
manufactured elsewhere with different barcode prefixes. The fact that a product barcode
prefix does not start with 600 doesn’t make it counterfeit or illicit. It is important to note
that GS1 is a neutral, global collaboration platform that brings industry leaders,
government, regulators, academia, and associations together to develop standards-
based solutions to address the challenges of data exchange and consumer safety.
Our scale and reach—local Member Organisations in 118 countries, over two million
user companies and 10 billion transactions every day—helps ensure that there is a
common language of business across the globe.
While we are deeply concerned about the issue of counterfeit and illicit products,
especially in the food and beverage sector, it is incorrect to assume that products
without the 600 prefixes are not legitimate.
GS1, a global organisation, works to make sure companies around the world use common
barcode standards. This helps businesses everywhere speak the same "barcode language,"
ensuring safety and trust for consumers.
How Do Barcodes Work?
Each company is given a special number (called a GS1 Prefix) that appears in their barcodes.
This number can show where the company is registered, but it doesn’t tell where the product
was actually made. For example, a company could be based in China, but their products may
be made in South Africa or another country.
Tips for Safe Shopping
To make sure you’re buying genuine products, keep these tips in mind:
Look for complete labels showing the product name, ingredients, manufacturer details,
including physical address, and expiration date.
Buy from reliable shops, especially for food items.
Make sure the product has proper trademarks and branding if it’s claiming to be from a
specific brand.
If you suspect a product might be fake, avoid buying it and report it to the authorities.
New Tool for Consumers
GS1 South Africa t/a CGCSA are working on an app that will help you verify products you buy,
whether from big stores, online, or informal markets. This app will help you confirm if a product
is genuine. Right now, any consumer can be sure where the barcode was issued by referencing
this link https://gs1za.org/solutions/verified/
Furthermore, work with companies to make sure they use GS1-approved barcodes is underway.
Through the Consumer Goods Crime Risk Initiative, CGCSA is also helping protect the food
supply chain, so products get from the manufacturer to your local shops safely. Report illicit or
counterfeit product on 0800 014 856.
