How to Get a Barcode for Your Food Product in Malaysia (GS1)

I run a food factory, and every pack that leaves it carries a barcode. If you are about to put your own sauce, snack or frozen food on a shop shelf, this is the short, practical version of how to get one in Malaysia, and the mistakes to avoid.

Do you really need a barcode?

GS1 Malaysia's own FAQ puts it plainly: a barcode is not required by law, but it is essential for most businesses selling consumer products. In practice the shop decides. Supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience chains and the big online marketplaces scan every item at the till and in the warehouse, so they ask for a barcode before they list your product.

If you only sell at a pasar malam, from your own shop or direct to friends, you can start without one. The day a retailer says yes, you will need it, so it pays to apply before your packaging goes to print.

Where real barcodes come from

The barcode on a food pack in Malaysia is almost always an EAN-13: 13 digits under a row of bars. Those numbers are not random. They come from GS1, the non-profit that runs the barcode system worldwide. In Malaysia that is GS1 Malaysia, which issues barcodes that start with 955.

When you join, GS1 Malaysia gives your company a GS1 Company Prefix: a number that belongs only to your company. You then add your own product numbers after it, one for each product and each pack size, plus a check digit at the end. The full 13-digit number is called a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number).

Step by step: getting a barcode from GS1 Malaysia

GS1 Malaysia describes it as four steps:

Contact GS1 Malaysia and choose a membership: a Small Block of 10 barcodes, or the Standard licence with 1,000.
Apply online with your documents: your company registration (SSM; a business registration is enough for a sole proprietor or partnership), your latest annual return, and proof of payment.
Pay the registration and annual fees.
Get your approval and barcode numbers. GS1 Malaysia says this takes 3 to 5 working days once all documents and payment are in.

How much it costs

These are the figures on GS1 Malaysia's pages on 14 November 2026. Fees change, so check the Small Block and Standard pages before you pay.

Small Block, 10 barcodes: RM1,050 registration (one-off), RM585 security deposit, RM390 a year to renew.
Standard, 1,000 barcodes: RM1,050 registration (one-off) and a security deposit; the yearly fee depends on your company's issued capital, from RM816 a year for capital up to RM2.5 million.
Optional barcode certification: RM250 to check 10 printed barcodes.

For a small food brand with a handful of products, 10 barcodes go further than you think, but remember each flavour and each pack size needs its own number. A 100 g and a 200 g pack of the same chips are two products to a shop.

Don't buy "cheap barcodes" online

You will find sellers offering barcodes for a few ringgit each. GS1 Malaysia warns that numbers from unauthorised resellers are not part of the GS1 system: they may be rejected by retailers, and there is no guarantee they will be accepted. The number may already be registered to another company, or it will point to a different company name when a retailer checks it. A pack reprint costs far more than doing it right the first time.

Turning the number into a barcode on your pack

Once you have your numbers, you need the actual bars for your artwork. Your designer can make them, or you can make them yourself in a minute with our free barcode generator: pick EAN-13, type your 12 digits and it works out the check digit for you, then download a PNG or an SVG for print. It runs in your browser, with no limit and no sign-up.

A few things to get right before the artwork goes to the printer:

Size. Don't shrink the barcode to fit the design. Too small or too short and the till can't read it. The EAN-13 guide covers the sizes.
Colour. Dark bars on a light background. Black on white is safest; red bars or a dark kraft background often fail to scan.
White space. Leave a clear margin on both sides of the bars. Text or a border too close stops it scanning.
Position. Keep it on a flat area, away from folds, seals and curves.
Test the proof. Scan the printed proof with a phone barcode app before you approve a full print run. GS1 Malaysia also offers barcode certification if a retailer asks for proof.

Barcode or QR code?

They do different jobs. The barcode on the back is for the till and the warehouse. A QR code can take customers to your website, recipe or WhatsApp. Many packs carry both. If you're not sure which you need, read barcode vs QR code, and make the QR code with the free QR code generator.

Make your barcode now →

General information only, not legal advice. Fees and rules change; check with GS1 Malaysia and your retailers before you print.

Questions

Is a barcode required by law in Malaysia?

No. GS1 Malaysia says a barcode is not required by law, but most supermarkets, convenience chains and online marketplaces require one before they list a product.

How much does a barcode cost in Malaysia?

At GS1 Malaysia, a Small Block of 10 barcodes costs RM1,050 to register, a RM585 security deposit and RM390 a year. The Standard licence of 1,000 barcodes has the same registration fee and a yearly fee from RM816, based on company capital. Figures as of 14 Nov 2026.

How long does it take to get a GS1 barcode in Malaysia?

GS1 Malaysia says 3 to 5 working days once all documents and payment are in.

Can I buy cheap barcodes online instead?

GS1 Malaysia warns that numbers from unauthorised resellers are not part of the GS1 system and may be rejected by retailers. It is safer to get your own numbers from GS1.

Do I need a different barcode for each flavour and size?

Yes. Each product, flavour and pack size needs its own number, so a 100 g and a 200 g pack are two barcodes.