What is Barcode Verification?
Barcode verification is a test to determine the quality of a printed barcode. Typically this carried out on a product’s final packaging or printed artwork proof. A barcode verifier machine is used to scan the printed barcode several times at various angles, a resulting ISO grade (4 – 0 / A – F) is indicated on a Barcode Verification Report. Having an acceptable verification report is often a prerequisite to supplying larger overseas retailers, but is not a common requirement within Hong Kong.
Some larger overseas retailers require a Barcode Verification report
Barcode accuracy is critical to the supply chain. Poor quality barcodes that fail to scan add unnecessary time and expense to the trading process. Products with poor quality barcodes can be outright rejected by retailers, resulting in loss of sales and possible financial penalties. Most major retailers in the United States, Australia and New Zealand typically require barcodes to have an ISO grade of 1.5 or higher.
Barcode Verification reports also are helpful in determining what needs to be corrected to improve barcode quality. Common causes for failed barcode verification include:
– Reduction/removal of the quiet zones (the white space either side of the code). We strongly advise to leave these intact at the graphic design stage.
– Significant reduction of the height of the barcode. This is known as truncation.
– Incorrect colour combination (black bars on white background is ideal). See our colour guide for acceptable combinations.
– Poor print resolution
– Incorrect check digit or non standard encoding e.g. an invalid format
– Poor Barcode Placement e.g. the Barcode is printed around a corner, on an excessively curved surface or obscured by shrink wrap.
– Certain substrates can affect barcode printing, causing shrinkage, or excess print bleed
Where to get Barcode Verification?
Candony offer Barcode Verification as part of their Barcode Label printing service. See https://www.barcodelabelhk.com/barcode/barcode_label-en.htm
Unfortunately at this time GS1 Hong Kong appears to only offer Barcode Verification Services for current GS1 HK members. However Verification Reports are not commonly required by retailers in Hong Kong. Other global GS1 branches such as New Zealand and Australia will carry out Barcode Verification services for non members, meaning they will test and verify the barcodes we supply. If you are exporting your product overseas and your retailers require barcode verification you can arrange a barcode verification report with the relevant branch of GS1.
New Zealand: https://www.gs1nz.org/services/verification/non-member-verification-form/
Australia: https://www.gs1au.org/our-services/barcode-check/
The EAN-13, UPC-A and ITF-14 barcode images we supply will pass a verification report given they are printed correctly (within 80% – 200% magnification range) and not adversely altered at the graphic design stage. Commonly our final printed barcodes have an ISO Grade 4 (highest possible) with a scan rate of 100% on GS1 Verification Reports.
Please Note – Verification Reports issued by GS1 using our numbers will mark the Validity of GS1 Company Prefix row “N/A”. This simply means your company is not a direct GS1 member. There are a limited amount of retialers globally that require direct GS1 membership.