State Press and Publication Administration, Administration of Bar Codes on Publications Measures

Promulgated: March 29 2000
Effective: May 1 2000
Interpreting authority: State Press and Publication Administration
Applicability: For the purposes of the Measures, bar codes on publications include bar codes of books, periodicals, music products and electronic publications (Article 3).

Main contents: According to the Measures, all Chinese registered publishers that have been granted the use of ISNB, ISSN and ISRC must apply for and use bar codes on their publications (Article 2). Application shall be made to the Bar Code Centre under the State Press and Publication Administration or its local sub-centres pursuant to the Measures set out in the Measures (Articles 9 and 10). The Bar Code Centre and its sub-centres implement the State policies, regulations and standards in respect of bar codes on publications (Articles 6 and 7). They are also responsible for the production of bar code film masters upon application by publishers; no other entity is allowed to produce bar code film masters (Article 8). A publisher shall not apply one bar code to more than one publication and shall otherwise use it in accordance with the Measures (Articles 14, 15 and 16). A publication without a bar code or with a bar code below acceptable print quality is not allowed to enter the market (Article 13).