Can someone explain how this barring thing works?

[GeeZuZz]

I see many of you write "barred in UK". When a phone is barred, isn't it barred in the whole world? Isn't there a registry in Ireland with barred IMEI's that is shared between all (European) operators?

Or will a phone barred in Norway, work in UK?

[Alt0208]

usually UK barred phones will work outside the uk

[maddog]

At the moment they are only barred in the country they were reported lost/stolen in. There are whispers that in the next few months they will make an international register, but cant really see it myself!