# Universal Product Code (UPC)

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> A shipment arrives at a North American distribution centre, and the warehouse scanner reads the printed barcode to log the product into the inventory system automatically.

A shipment arrives at a North American distribution centre, and the warehouse scanner reads the printed barcode to log the product into the inventory system automatically. In most cases, that code is a UPC-A—the 12-digit barcode standard administered by GS1 US for the unique identification of retail products. The UPC is used primarily in the United States and Canada; internationally, the 13-digit EAN-13 predominates. Both formats are technically compatible with modern scanners, yet many North American retailers and marketplaces explicitly require a valid UPC-A. Manufacturers and exporters supplying North American retail must licence UPC codes through GS1 US; missing or invalid codes typically trigger booking errors and compliance issues at the point of receipt.

**Source:** [https://www.gs1us.org/tools/gs1-company-database-gepir](https://www.gs1us.org/tools/gs1-company-database-gepir)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Universal Product Code (UPC) |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 114 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://www.gs1us.org/tools/gs1-company-database-gepir |

---

*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/universal-product-code-upc](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/universal-product-code-upc)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/universal-product-code-upc](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/universal-product-code-upc)*

*JSON summary: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/universal-product-code-upc/llm-summary?lang=en](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/universal-product-code-upc/llm-summary?lang=en)*