In short ⚡
Amazon FBA Prep Requirements: Labelling and Packaging Before Shipping require sellers to complete unit, carton and pallet preparation before inventory enters the US FBA network. Since 1 January 2026, Amazon no longer provides US FBA prep or labelling services, so China suppliers or warehouses must apply the required labels and protection before departure.
Before shipping, verify these requirements:
- Apply the correct FNSKU or eligible manufacturer barcode to every sellable unit, ensuring it is visible, flat and scannable.
- Use product-specific protection, such as poly bags with required suffocation warnings, bubble wrap, bundling or leak protection.
- Provide shipment carton labels and record accurate box contents, SKU quantities and carton identification before sealing each carton.
- Check current Amazon marketplace requirements for carton weight, size, pallet labels and transport-unit instructions.
- Give the supplier final label files, placement references, packaging instructions and version-controlled carton procedures.
- Complete pre-shipment checks in China, including barcode scans, packaging checks, carton-content verification, measurements and photographs.
In this guide, you will find the 2026 FBA policy change, unit-, carton- and pallet-level requirements, preparation options in China, supplier briefing instructions and pre-shipment inspection checks.
We hope you’ll find this article genuinely useful, but remember, if you ever feel lost at any step, whether it’s finding a supplier, validating quality, managing international shipping or customs, DocShipper can handle it all for you!
Amazon FBA prep requirements now have to be completed before your inventory reaches the US network. Since 1 January 2026, Amazon no longer provides prep and labelling services for US FBA shipments, including FNSKU labelling, carton labelling, poly bagging, bubble wrapping and bundling, regardless of whether inventory moves through direct inbound shipping, AWD, AGL or SEND.
For a seller sourcing from China, the practical answer is to prepare at the factory or at a warehouse in China, then verify every unit and carton before departure. The checklist below separates requirements into three levels: the sellable unit, the shipping carton and the pallet or transport load.
DocShipper Info
Prepare and verify every unit in China before departure to avoid costly corrections
What changed in 2026: Amazon no longer preps in the US
Since 1 January 2026, Amazon no longer provides US FBA prep and labelling services. You must arrange the FNSKU, packaging protection, warning labels, bundling and carton labelling upstream, before the shipment enters Amazon’s fulfilment network.
The change applies to the preparation tasks themselves, not only to one shipping method. The inventory may travel directly to FBA or through AWD, AGL or SEND, but the responsibility for compliant preparation remains with the seller and its suppliers.
This changes the purchasing decision when you source in China. Ask the factory to apply labels during packing, or send finished units to a forwarder warehouse or prep facility in China. Relabelling after arrival in the US can add a prep-centre charge and create a delay, whereas adding a label during production or final packing is usually operationally simpler.
You should also separate preparation from customs and delivery. For example, KPMG reported that the US suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries from 29 August 2025, meaning shipments valued at USD 800 or less require a formal entry type in ACE. That customs change does not replace the FBA prep checklist, but it means your logistics plan must cover both compliant preparation and the correct import process.
| Before 1 January 2026 | Amazon could provide certain prep and labelling services for US inbound inventory. |
| From 1 January 2026 | The seller must arrange preparation before the inventory reaches the US FBA network. |
| Relevant inbound routes | Direct shipment, AWD, AGL and SEND still require upstream preparation. |
| Operational response | Brief the factory or China warehouse, then inspect before shipment. |
Hopstack’s summary of the 2026 change provides the dated context. Always confirm the current workflow and marketplace-specific rules in Amazon Seller Central before releasing a shipment.
DocShipper Tips
Share final label files and verify marketplace details before production
Unit-level requirements
Each sellable unit needs a scannable barcode accepted for the listing, normally an FNSKU or an eligible manufacturer barcode, and packaging that protects the product through handling. Poly bags, suffocation warnings, bubble wrap, bundling or expiration-date controls depend on the product category and the current Seller Central instructions.
An FNSKU is Amazon’s fulfilment network stock-keeping unit. It identifies your offer and links the physical unit to the correct seller and listing, so the label must be generated for the correct marketplace, SKU and variation before the supplier prints it.
Send the supplier the final label file rather than asking the factory to recreate it from a screenshot. Define where the label goes, make sure it remains visible and scannable, and require the factory to remove or cover any barcode that could cause Amazon to identify the unit incorrectly.
Packaging must also match the product risk. A product that can spill may need leak protection, a fragile item may need protective wrapping, a set must remain together, and a garment or other suitable product may require a poly bag. When a poly bag is used, verify the bag specification and the required suffocation warning on the current Seller Central page for the destination marketplace. Do not rely on a generic bag or an old supplier standard.
| Product type | Preparation to confirm | Label or control |
| Standard boxed product | Protective retail packaging and secure closure | Scannable FNSKU or eligible manufacturer barcode |
| Product in a poly bag | Correct bag, sealed opening and required warning | Barcode remains visible and scannable through the packaging |
| Fragile product | Bubble wrap or equivalent protection where required | Barcode placement must remain accessible for scanning |
| Set or bundle | Components secured together as one sellable unit | One unit-level identification for the complete set |
| Liquid or leak-sensitive product | Closure and leak protection checked before packing | Required product and shipment information verified for the marketplace |
| Product with an expiration date | Date visibility and unit-level handling confirmed | Expiration requirements checked in Seller Central before production |
Use Amazon Seller Central’s current packaging and prep requirements as the controlling document. Product type, fulfilment programme and marketplace can change the required treatment, so a label or packaging method accepted for one listing should not automatically be copied to another.
DocShipper Tips
Check current Seller Central requirements before copying any packaging or labelling method
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Carton and pallet requirements
Each shipping carton needs the shipment labels generated for that shipment, accurate box content information and packaging that meets the destination marketplace’s current size and weight rules. Pallets or larger transport units must also follow the applicable delivery and labelling instructions.
A carton label is not the same as an FNSKU. The FNSKU identifies the sellable unit inside the carton, while the shipment or carton label connects the outer box to the inbound shipment. A factory can apply both, but the files and placement instructions must be kept separate in the supplier brief.
Box content information must match what is physically packed. If the shipment plan says a carton contains one quantity, variation or SKU and the carton contains something different, Amazon may need to investigate or correct the discrepancy. Require the packing team to record carton contents as each box is closed, not from an estimate after production.
Do not copy carton weight, box-size or pallet limits from an old checklist. Amazon changes or applies requirements by marketplace and programme, so verify the current limits in Seller Central for the US, EU or UK destination on the day you approve the shipment. The same check applies to pallet labels, carrier instructions and any delivery appointment requirements.
- Generate the shipment information in the correct Seller Central account and marketplace.
- Send the resulting carton-label files and box-content instructions to the supplier or China warehouse.
- Ask the packing team to identify each carton and record its actual contents before sealing it.
- Verify the current Amazon carton, weight, size and pallet rules before booking transport.
- Keep photographs and the final carton list with the commercial and shipping documents.
| Level | What to verify | Typical failure to prevent |
| Unit | FNSKU or eligible barcode, protection and product-specific prep | Unscannable, missing or incorrectly assigned unit |
| Carton | Shipment label, box contents, actual carton identification | Label does not match the physical carton |
| Pallet or load | Marketplace-specific delivery, weight, size and pallet instructions | Transport unit does not meet the current inbound rules |
The aim is not to create more paperwork. It is to make the physical shipment agree with the digital shipment plan before it leaves China, when corrections are still accessible and relatively easy to control.
DocShipper Info
Choose the right preparation partner before corrections become expensive
Who does the prep: supplier, warehouse in China or prep centre
The supplier can complete prep during final packing, a forwarder or warehouse in China can inspect, label and consolidate the goods, or a destination prep centre can correct the shipment after arrival. For China-sourced inventory, factory or China-warehouse preparation usually gives you earlier control, while destination preparation introduces an extra handling stage.
The supplier is suitable when the product is stable, the packaging is already defined and the factory can follow a precise written brief. This option reduces handoffs, but you need an independent check because the same team that packed the goods may not identify its own labelling errors.
A warehouse or prep facility in China is useful when several suppliers must be consolidated, when the factory cannot print Amazon files reliably, or when you want a separate team to check carton contents. It can receive goods, apply labels, repack units and prepare the final shipment, subject to its confirmed capabilities and the destination marketplace rules.
A prep centre at destination can be a fallback for inventory that needs correction, but it means the goods have already crossed the point where errors are cheapest to fix. Confirm its scope, receiving process, inspection method and charges before shipping. The brief does not provide a standard prep-centre fee, so do not build your margin calculation around an assumed rate.
| Option | Cost and control profile | Best use |
| Supplier in China | Usually the fewest handoffs; control depends on factory execution | Repeatable products with a clear packing specification |
| Warehouse in China | Additional handling, with stronger consolidation and checking control | Multiple suppliers, mixed cartons or independent verification |
| Destination prep centre | Later correction, with extra handling and possible delay | Exception handling or inventory that could not be prepared upstream |
Choose the option based on volume, product complexity and the number of suppliers, not only on the quoted unit price. A low preparation price is not economical if a missing label causes rework, a receiving discrepancy or inventory delay.
DocShipper Tips
Document every label, packaging and carton instruction before packing begins
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How to brief your Chinese supplier
Send a written supplier prep brief containing the label files, placement photos, packaging instructions, carton marks, box-content process and marketplace-specific limits. Make the brief part of the purchase order and obtain a confirmation before production or final packing starts.
Use the following template as the minimum instruction set:
- Product identification: list the marketplace, ASIN or listing reference, seller SKU, variation and the quantity expected per sellable unit.
- Unit label: attach the final FNSKU file, specify the permitted placement and state which other barcodes must be covered or removed.
- Product preparation: describe whether the unit needs a poly bag, suffocation warning, bubble wrap, bundling, leak protection or expiration-date control.
- Packaging: attach reference photographs showing the closed unit, label position, seals and any protective material.
- Carton instructions: provide the shipment carton-label files, box-content procedure and carton identification method.
- Limits: insert the current Seller Central weight, size and pallet requirements for the destination marketplace rather than using a factory default.
- Evidence: require photographs of a prepared unit, a closed carton, the carton label and the final pallet or load before release.
Ask the supplier to prepare a sample unit and one representative carton before the complete order is packed. Approve that sample in writing, then require the packing team to follow the approved version. This prevents a common failure where the first sample is correct but the production team uses a different label position or poly bag during mass packing.
Keep the brief version-controlled. If you change the listing, marketplace, product variation or packaging, issue a new file and withdraw the previous one. The factory should not have several valid-looking FNSKU files in the same production folder.
| Brief section | File or instruction to provide |
| Unit identification | Final FNSKU files and SKU or variation list |
| Packaging | Poly bag, warning, protection and closure instructions |
| Placement | Annotated photographs or diagrams approved for production |
| Carton | Carton-label files and box-content recording procedure |
| Marketplace | Destination and current Seller Central requirements |
| Release evidence | Sample and pre-shipment photographs |
DocShipper Alert
Withdraw obsolete FNSKU files whenever listings, marketplaces or packaging change
Check prep before the goods leave China
Add FBA preparation to the pre-shipment inspection instead of checking only product quality. The inspection should prove that the physical units, cartons and shipment documents agree before the goods are consolidated or loaded.
- Barcode scan test: scan a sample of prepared units and confirm that the label identifies the intended product and seller offer.
- Placement check: confirm that the FNSKU is flat, visible and not blocked by a seam, corner, protective material or another barcode.
- Poly bag check: verify the bag closure, product fit and required suffocation warning where applicable.
- Protection check: open sample units to confirm bubble wrap, bundling, leak protection or other product-specific preparation.
- Carton check: compare the carton label and recorded box contents with the actual SKU and quantity inside.
- Weight and size check: measure and record the finished cartons, then compare the results with the current marketplace limits.
- Load check: verify pallet or transport-unit markings, carton count and the final packing list before release.
Photographs should show both the detail and the context: a readable barcode close-up, the complete unit, the closed carton, the carton label and the consolidated load. If a carton is opened during inspection, record the corrected quantity and update the final carton list rather than relying on the original packing estimate.
DocShipper can include these points in a pre-shipment inspection, alongside supplier coordination, consolidation and delivery planning. The objective is simple: identify a missing label or incorrect carton before the goods leave China, not after Amazon has received them.
Use Amazon Seller Central’s current packaging, prep and shipment-label pages as the final authority for each marketplace. The inspection confirms execution, but it does not replace the seller’s responsibility to verify the latest rules.
Conclusion
Amazon FBA prep requirements are now an upstream responsibility for US-bound inventory. A supplier-ready brief and a pre-shipment inspection give you the best chance of sending inventory that is checked in rather than bounced or corrected after arrival.
- Amazon stopped US prep and labelling services on 1 January 2026.
- Prepare and label units in China before departure whenever the supplier or warehouse can execute the brief reliably.
- Give the supplier final FNSKU files, packaging instructions, carton labels and placement references in writing.
- Check the unit, carton and pallet levels separately.
- Verify current weight, size, barcode, poly bag and marketplace rules in Seller Central before shipment.
- Include barcode scans, packaging checks, carton-content checks and photographs in the pre-shipment inspection.
Sourcing FBA products in China? We brief your supplier on Amazon prep, check labels and packaging before shipment, consolidate the goods and coordinate delivery to Amazon warehouses.
FAQ | Amazon FBA Prep Requirements in 2026: A Supplier-Ready Checklist for China
No. An FNSKU is linked to a specific seller offer, marketplace, SKU and variation. A label that is correct for one colour, size or marketplace may identify the wrong inventory elsewhere. Generate and verify the label for each offer before sending files to your supplier.
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