Product labels and country of origin

Consumers are often confused by product labels such as “Made in China,” “Product of China,” or “Assembled in China.” These phrases carry different meanings in international trade.

• Made in China refers to goods that undergo substantial manufacturing in China.
• Product of China emphasizes that the raw materials or essential ingredients originate from China, often used for food and agricultural items.
• Assembled in China means parts sourced globally are put together in China, but the core components may come from other countries.

Adding to the confusion, barcodes do not indicate a product’s origin. The first three digits of a barcode only show the country where the company registered its GS1 code, not the actual place of production.

Trade officials stress that the true country of origin is determined by customs rules, such as substantial transformation or value content thresholds, not by barcodes.

Link to GS1 Cambodia https://gs1cambodia.org/kh/ and GS1 Global https://www.gs1.org/about

884 is GS1 prefix assigned as the the country code for Cambodia. This means that any product using a barcode starting with 884 is officially registered with GS1 Cambodia (Barcode Cambodia), which is part of the international barcode system. To scan barcodes, you can download the GS1 Cambodia application from the App Store or Play Store, or scan the QR code below.

Here’s the benefit of using barcode:

• Supporting and strengthening local products.

• Increasing consumer confidence whereas products have clear origins.

• Opportunities to export Cambodian products to international markets.

These terms often appear on product labels, but each has a different meaning. Here’s a comparison for Cambodia context:

1. Made in Cambodia

• Product was substantially manufactured or transformed in Cambodia.
• Example: A garment where fabric is cut and sewn in Cambodia.
• Legally accepted as country of origin under trade/customs rules.

2. Product of Cambodia

• Focuses on raw material origin.
• Example: Rice grown in Cambodia and packed abroad is still Product of Cambodia.
• Mostly used for food, agriculture, and natural products.

3. Assembled in Cambodia

• Parts come from various countries, but final assembly is in Cambodia.
• Example: A bicycle with imported parts, but put together in Cambodia.
• May not qualify as Cambodian origin for export preference schemes unless value-added thresholds are met.

4. Designed in Cambodia

• Product design (concept, artwork, style, UX, etc.) was created in Cambodia.
• Example: A fashion brand with design team in Phnom Penh, but production in China.
• Not accepted for rules of origin — marketing only.

5. Engineered in Cambodia

• Technical design or engineering process done in Cambodia.
• Example: A machine with engineering specs developed in Cambodia, but parts made elsewhere.
• Marketing claim, not proof of Cambodian origin.

6. Manufactured in Cambodia

• Similar to Made in Cambodia, but emphasizes factory production process.
• Example: Shoes stitched and completed in Cambodian factories.
• Can be treated as Cambodian origin if substantial transformation occurs.

7. Distributed by Cambodia

• Means a company in Cambodia sells or distributes the product, but it may be produced abroad.
• Example: A Cambodian company imports Korean electronics and distributes locally.
• Not related to country of origin.

Summary Table