What is GTIN? Complete Guide for Indian Sellers — 2026

If you have ever tried to list a product on Amazon India, Flipkart or any modern retail platform, you have almost certainly seen the term GTIN. What exactly is it? Why does every marketplace and retailer ask for it? And do you actually need one for your business in India? This guide answers all of that — clearly and without jargon.

What is a GTIN?

GTIN stands for Global Trade Item Number. It is an internationally standardised numbering system used to uniquely identify any product anywhere in the world. Think of it as a product's permanent, globally-recognised identity number — a passport for your product.

Every unique product sold in retail or e-commerce — whether a biscuit packet, a mobile phone case or a bottle of hair oil — has (or should have) its own unique GTIN. No two different products share the same GTIN. If you change a product's size, colour, flavour or packaging, it gets a new GTIN.

GTIN-8, GTIN-12, GTIN-13, GTIN-14 — the 4 Types Explained

GTINs come in four lengths. Each is used for different purposes:

For Indian sellers, the most important types are GTIN-13 (EAN-13) for retail/e-commerce product listings and GTIN-12 (UPC-A) if you are selling on international platforms or Amazon USA.

GTIN vs EAN vs UPC — How They Relate

This is probably the most confusing part of barcodes for beginners. Here is the simple truth:

• GTIN is the master category — the umbrella term for all of these number systems.
• EAN-13 (European Article Number, 13 digits) is a type of GTIN. Specifically, an EAN-13 is a GTIN-13.
• UPC-A (Universal Product Code, 12 digits) is also a type of GTIN. A UPC-A is a GTIN-12.
• Every EAN-13 can be expressed as a GTIN-12 by dropping the leading zero (or vice versa). They are mathematically equivalent.

Why GTIN Matters for Indian Sellers

GTINs have become the backbone of modern commerce — both online and offline. Here is why you cannot ignore them:

GTIN on Amazon India — What You Need to Know

Amazon India has been increasingly strict about GTIN requirements over the last two years. Here is what every Indian seller must understand:

Does Amazon Require a GTIN?

Yes, for most categories. When you create a product listing on Amazon Seller Central India, you will be asked for a product ID — which is almost always a GTIN (EAN, UPC, ISBN for books, etc.).

Which GTIN Does Amazon India Accept?

• EAN-13 (GTIN-13) — the standard for India and accepted on Amazon India
• UPC-A (GTIN-12) — also accepted, especially for products sold across multiple markets
• ISBN — for books only

What Happens Without a GTIN on Amazon?

Amazon may:

• Reject your new listing outright
• Suppress existing listings (they disappear from search results)
• Flag your account for policy violations
• Block the listing until a valid GTIN is provided

GTIN on Flipkart & JioMart

Flipkart requires a barcode number during product listing. They accept EAN-13 codes in the product ID field. JioMart similarly requires EAN/UPC barcodes for their seller onboarding process.

Both platforms use the GTIN to:

• Detect duplicate listings and merge them into a single product page
• Pull product images and descriptions from their databases
• Ensure the correct product is fulfilled to customers
• Manage returns, refunds and replacements accurately

How to Get a GTIN in India

There are two primary routes for Indian sellers to get GTINs:

Option 1: GS1 India (Official Registry)

GS1 India is the official organisation that issues new GTIN prefixes in India. You apply for a company prefix, and then generate product-level GTINs from that prefix. Advantages: directly registered in global databases. Disadvantages: annual subscription fees (typically ₹8,000–₹50,000+ per year depending on turnover), registration process takes weeks, and the cost for a small seller is prohibitive.

Option 2: Reseller / Legacy-Origin Barcodes (Planet Retail)

Planet Retail supplies genuine EAN-13 and UPC-A barcode packages sourced from legacy-origin, legally-transferred barcode pools. These barcodes have valid GTIN numbers that work on packaging, POS scanners, e-commerce platforms and retail systems.

Key advantages:

• ✅ One-time payment — no annual fees ever
• ✅ Immediate delivery (within 2 hours by email)
• ✅ Starting from just ₹1,075 for a single barcode
• ✅ Accepted on Amazon India, Flipkart, JioMart, Meesho and retail
• ✅ Trusted by 20,000+ Indian businesses since 2013

GTIN Exemption — When You Don't Need One

Amazon India (and some other platforms) offer a GTIN Exemption process for sellers who cannot provide a standard barcode. This is mainly applicable when:

• You manufacture a product that has never had a barcode before
• You sell handmade, artisan or custom products
• You sell private-label products not yet registered in any database
• Your barcode is not found in Amazon's lookup system

To apply for a GTIN Exemption on Amazon India:

1. Go to Seller Central → Catalog → Add a Product
2. Search for your product — if not found, select "I'm adding a product not sold on Amazon"
3. In the Product ID section, click "Apply for a GTIN exemption"
4. Submit your brand name, product category, and a product image
5. Amazon reviews and approves (usually within 3–5 business days)

However, a GTIN Exemption means your product will not have a scannable barcode printed on packaging — which limits your ability to sell through retail stores, distributors or other platforms. For a complete business, having a real barcode is always the better long-term choice.

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