EAN

EAN (International Article Number, formerly European Article Number) is a 13-digit product identifier widely used in retail and logistics worldwide. It forms the backbone of product tracking and inventory systems across supply chains.

Key points:

• Each EAN is unique to a product variation (size, color, pack size, etc.)
• EANs are issued by GS1, a global standards organization
• Typically used in barcodes scanned at retail points of sale
• On Amazon, EANs are often used to match products in the catalog or to list new ASINs

Why it matters for Amazon sellers:

• Required when creating new listings (unless exempt via GTIN exemption)
• Ensures your product is correctly matched to existing listings
• Helps Amazon track inventory and fulfillment across FBA and other channels

💡 Example: A 500ml bottle of shampoo and a 1L version will each have a different EAN.

In short:
EAN is a standardized global product identifier used in barcodes to uniquely track and manage individual product variations in retail and online marketplaces like Amazon.