Selling hazardous materials (hazmat) on Amazon requires special handling and compliance. This guide will walk through key steps for successfully selling hazmat products within Amazon’s guidelines. Adhering to the below will help ensure the successful onboarding of hazmat goods onto Amazon and the mitigation of hazmat-related issues that come after the fact as Amazon adjusts policies (which it is known to do frequently).
We will cover the following recommendations…
- How to Provide Complete Hazmat Information in Listings: Must disclose all required hazmat details like UN number, battery info, pictograms, etc when creating or editing FBA listings to avoid blocks.
- Submit Necessary Documentation: Amazon may request SDS or exemption sheets to confirm if existing inventory is regulated. Not providing docs can lead to disposal.
- Follow Packaging and Prep Guidelines: Use proper hazmat containers, labels, markings, etc. Follow Amazon prep guidance before shipping to fulfillment centers.
- Following Shipping and Storage Guidelines
- Monitor and Adhere to Evolving Policies: Stay up-to-date on Amazon’s program requirements as they frequently change. Ensure listings and operations remain compliant.
Understand Policies for Amazon Hazmat
Hazmat (hazardous materials) products contain toxic, flammable, or otherwise dangerous components. Examples include lithium batteries, magnetized materials, aerosols, chemicals
Amazon’s requirements for hazmat products cover product testing, certification, packaging, labeling, and more. Useful resources include:
- Amazon Hazmat Policy Page – Details Amazon’s policies and restrictions around selling hazmat products.
- https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/201371860
- Amazon Compliance Documentation – Review all guidance to ensure your hazmat listings meet requirements.
Stay up-to-date on the latest rules to keep your listings compliant.
Prep Your Amazon Hazmat Listings
Adhere to Amazon’s hazmat listing content guidelines for proper disclosure- accurate listing details help inform customers and fulfill compliance.
When creating or editing FBA listings, disclose all required details like UN number, battery composition/cells/weight, GHS pictograms, SDS URL, etc. Missing or incomplete info can block listings or cause delays. Even non-hazmat products should provide any available documentation.
Amazon may request SDS or exemption sheets to confirm if existing FBA inventory is regulated. Sellers must provide requested docs within 14 days or items may be disposed. SDS must meet Amazon’s date, content and matching requirements. Exemption sheets only for batteries/battery products and non-chemicals.
Prep Inventory and Packaging for FBA
Use Amazon’s hazmat prep and packaging guidance to ready inventory before sending to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).
Products must have compliant containers, markings, labels, and warning symbols that adhere to regulations. Follow all safety procedures when handling and storing hazmat inventory. Proper prep prevents issues.
Consider outsourcing to a hazmat preparation service to ensure products meet standards before shipping to FBA.
Understand Shipping Rules and Restrictions
As high-risk items, hazmat products face strict shipping requirements and limitations. Thoroughly review hazmat shipping policies for Amazon and all carriers you plan to use.
For dangerous goods, regardless of shipping method (LTL or SPD) you have to buy the shipping services outside the seller central platform. You may therefore use any carrier of your choosing. When creating FBA shipments for these dangerous goods products you will only get labels that will ensure the products are checked in in the FBA warehouse, but you will not get prepaid shipping labels.
*Note: Do not use Amazon partnered carriers when shipping hazmat inventory. Select “Other” as the carrier when creating FBA shipments.
Comply with regulations around proper shipping names, classifications, handling, and documentation. Use ground shipping services that allow hazmat parcels. Follow all quantity limits. Use caution with expedited delivery, as express carriers have added restrictions.
Consider Amazon Hazmat Storage Needs
Know that hazmat items fall into separate FBA storage types like Aerosol and Flammable. These storage types are measured in volume and are more difficult to obtain or increase than regular storage.
Common hazmat products include liquids and pressurized goods. Be strategic in which products are sent to FBA to align with available storage limits.
“It’s important to understand that Amazon does not regularly assess and increase flammable and aerosol storage limits automatically, even if sales justify an increase. We often have to manually push for a storage limit increase by contacting Seller Support or utilizing an internal Amazon representative.” – Henry Polanco, Envision Horizons Supply Chain Manager
The restricted storage for hazmat items combined with the difficulty of getting Amazon to raise limits means sellers need to be very deliberate in which hazmat products they send into FBA. Continuously evaluate storage needs against inventory velocity and proactively request increases from Amazon.
Find Help In Seller Forums
Seller Forums – Ask specific compliance questions and learn from other sellers’ experiences…
- https://sellercentral.amazon.com/forums/c/selling-on-amazon/hazmat
- https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-forums/discussions?sortBy=totalViews&dateRange=threeMonths&replies=repliesAll&searchTerm=Dangerous%20Goods
- https://www.reddit.com/r/FulfillmentByAmazon/comments/x11snl/fba_hazmat/
- https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-best-way-to-know-if-a-product-is-hazmat-or-if-I-am-restricted-to-sell-it-on-Amazon-as-FBA
Partner with Experts for Amazon Hazmat Success
Given the intricacies of selling regulated items on Amazon, brands often benefit from partnering with specialists like Envision Horizons. Their experts help successfully navigate Amazon’s hazmat requirements and safely grow your business.
Selling hazmat on Amazon requires diligence, but is achievable for brands willing to take the proper precautions. Monitor policy changes, optimize listings, follow shipping rules, and market compliantly.
