This article covers ASIN and GTIN, the Amazon GTIN Exemption, and the overall Amazon listing process.

Product Identifiers

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)

This product identifier is a distinct numerical sequence that serves as a product identifier and is represented by a barcode. 

Multiple item identifier types are used globally, in accordance with various industry standards. They include:

• UPC (Universal Product Code) – 12 digits: It is the most widely recognized barcode type, and can be found on virtually every physical product.
• ISBN (International Standard Book Number) – 10 or 13 digits: It is specifically designed for books and is usually associated with a publication date.
• EAN (European Article Number) – 13 digits: It is created specifically for products in the European marketplace and is valid internationally.
• JAN (Japanese Article Number) – 13 digits: It is used specifically for products distributed in Japan.
• GTIN-14 (Global Trade Item Number) – 14 digits: It is used to identify multi-unit trade items (e.g., outer cases, pallet shipments, bundled packs).

If you source products from a manufacturer but do not have a GTIN, you can request one from them. If you create and own a new product, you will need to obtain a GTIN through GS1 — the only official and globally recognized provider.

ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) 

ASIN is a unique ten-digit alphanumeric code generated by Amazon and assigned to each new listing. You can use it to distinguish between different items in the marketplace catalog.

ASINs are essential to Amazon’s cataloging system, helping both sellers and buyers identify and manage products. They appear in search results, product URLs, product detail pages, and inventory management.

List products from the Amazon Seller Central

When selling on Amazon, you will fall into one of two cases:

List your own offer for an existing Amazon product

In this case, you are not creating a new product detail page. Instead, you are listing your own offer (such as price, quantity, and fulfillment method) for a product that already exists in the Amazon catalog and has an assigned ASIN.

Your offer must exactly match the selected ASIN, including the brand, model, and product specifications. Listing mismatched items may result in policy violations.

Create a brand-new listing on Amazon

Amazon requires all mandatory listing information (including title, description, images, bullet points, and additional details) to create a new product page and assign a unique ASIN. A valid GTIN or approved GTIN Exemption must also be provided.

This leads to two possible paths:

1. Using GTIN.

If your product has a valid GTIN, you can use it to create a new listing. Amazon will then generate a new ASIN and create a corresponding product detail page based on the information you provide.

This method is ideal for branded, private-label, or retail products that are properly barcoded and GS1-registered.

2. Using GTIN Exemption.

If your product does not have a GTIN, you can apply for a GTIN Exemption before listing. 

The Amazon GTIN Exemption allows you to list products without GTIN barcodes. It is granted for a specific brand and category and enables Amazon to assign new ASINs to your products. If you list products under multiple brands or categories, you will need to request a separate exemption for each one.

There are two scenarios in which a GTIN Exemption can be approved:

• You are selling products under a generic or no-brand name.
• You are selling products under your own private brand name, which is not enrolled in the Amazon Brand Registry.

Once approved, you can proceed to list your products on the marketplace.

This method is suitable for handmade goods, customized items, or private-label products without barcodes.

List products on Amazon via LitCommerce

LitCommerce offers two methods for listing your products:

Create an offer using an existing ASIN 

Similar to listing products directly in Amazon Seller Central, it is possible to create an offer under an existing ASIN from the Amazon catalog via our tool.

You can find the matching ASIN in the Amazon catalog using the LitCommerce ASIN Lookup tool with GTINs, SKUs, or keywords. Once found, assign the ASIN to your listing and fill in the additional required details before publishing.

Key listing details (such as title, description, product type, and more) of your item must exactly match the assigned ASIN.

Create a brand-new listing on Amazon

GTINs are typically used to create new listings and generate ASINs on Amazon. However, when publishing new listings through LitCommerce, they cannot be used to generate new ASINs due to Amazon API limitations for third-party applications.

In our tool, GTINs will only be used to find the matching existing ASINs in the Amazon catalog. 

If you belong to all the cases below, you will need to request GTIN Exemption from Amazon to be able to list your products from our tool.

• No GTINs available, and cannot find existing ASINs from the LitCommerce ASIN Lookup. 
• GTINs are available, but do not match any existing ASINs in the Amazon catalog.

Refer to this article for more information on the process. Once you acquire the exemption, contact us to proceed with the next steps.

Additionally, view the article How to list Products on Amazon to learn about publishing Amazon listings with LitCommerce.

If you have any questions, let us know via the Chat Box in the bottom-right corner of our Help Center.

Updated on: 12/09/2025