The barcode only shows the GS1 member country where the manufacturing company is registered - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 15, 2023
A post claiming that ‘Israel changed its barcode from 729 to 871 due to the boycott of Israeli products’ is being shared on social media. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Israel changed its barcode from 729 to 871 due to the public’s boycott of Israeli products
Fact: The barcode does not serve as a means to identify the country of origin or manufacture of a product; it solely indicates the GS1 member country which the manufacturing company is registered with. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
On a relevant keyword search regarding the claim made in the post, we found that GS1, a non-profit organization responsible for assigning company prefixes for barcodes, designates the prefix number.  Each member organization, often the country has a unique company prefix. The prefix 729 is for Israeli companies and 821 is for companies in the Netherlands according to the company prefix list.
However, it’s important to note that the existence of a specific prefix does not imply that the product is made in that country. GS1 clarified (here and here) about the company prefix by clearly stating that GS1 member companies have the freedom to produce goods globally. The GS1 prefix does not serve as a means to identify the country of origin or manufacture for a product; it solely indicates the GS1 member country which the manufacturing company is registered with.
For instance, in this context, the product with the barcode 729 could be manufactured in any other country not just in Israel. It signifies the company registered in Israel for obtaining a barcode, regardless of where the actual manufacturing takes place. The country of origin is usually mentioned on the product details or the label.  Factly had previously published a detailed article that explained barcodes, providing relevant examples.
GS1 in its FAQ section also clarified that once a GCP is issued to a company it is not allowed to be sold, leased, or shared with any other company, either entirely or partially. Companies are required to inform their GS1 Member Organization of any legal status changes within one year to ensure a seamless transition company prefixes cannot be reassigned from the original company.
To sum up, the barcode doesn’t reveal the product’s origin country; it only shows the GS1 member country where the manufacturing company is registered.