Hazmat Shipping on Amazon: The Complete Guide

If you are shipping Hazmat on Amazon business, this comprehensive information about Amazon FBA and Hazmat reviews which are essential for all FBA sellers who plan to ship hazardous material. It explains the different classes of Hazmat and the purpose and regulations behind them, in addition to providing examples of hazmat products.

This article outlines tips and processes for successfully shipping Hazmat on Amazon and explains the consequences of not following regulations. With this information, sellers can take all necessary precautions to ensure a safe and compliant hazmat shipping experience on Amazon.

You’ll also find tips to help sellers resolve Hazmat reviews quickly at the bottom, such as creating a new Stock Keeping Unit and hiring an Inventory Management Expert. By following these steps, sellers can optimize their hazmat shipping process and increase the safety of their products.

What Are Hazmat and Hazmat Shipping?

Hazmat products are those items that are dangerous to store, handle, or transport since they contain flammable liquid, pressurized, corrosive, or otherwise hazardous substances. It risks the environment, property, safety, and health at any stage of the distribution process.

The transportation of dangerous goods is referred to as Hazmat shipping.

Hazmat shipping is subject to stringent regulations, and all shipments must be properly labeled and packaged. It would lead to severe injuries and accidents if they failed to do it.

If you are in charge of shipping hazmat items, you must be well-versed in the regulations and take all necessary precautions. It will contribute to the safety of everyone involved.

Why is it essential to Amazon Sellers?

Amazon requires that all sellers comply with the regulations for shipping hazmat simply to reflect best practices for handling items in these categories more generally. Not following these regulations can result in severe penalties and fines for every seller. Also, Amazon has strict rules about packaging and labeling hazmat products to ensure safety, so as a seller, you must complete product data.

Therefore, it is essential for those sellers who ship hazardous materials to understand the regulations and requirements related to hazmat shipping. Adhering to these regulations can help sellers ensure their products are safely delivered to their buyers.

What are the penalties for not following hazmat policies and regulations?

The consequences of not following hazmat regulations can be severe. Penalties may include:

Costly fines.
Delayed shipments due to inspection.
Even legal action against the seller.

Sellers may be liable for any damages caused by a hazardous material-related incident or failure to follow amazon’s guidelines. Therefore, amazon sellers must understand the regulations and take all necessary precautions when shipping hazmat goods.

Origin of Amazon’s Hazmat Review

When Amazon receives an order containing Hazmat, it initiates a process known as the Amazon Hazmat Review. This review aims to ensure that all the sellers comply with amazon’s hazmat policies and regulations of the FBA dangerous goods program.

Depending on amazon’s assessment of the shipment, they may reject or accept the order. The platform implemented the procedure in 2014, following a $350,000 fine for endangering UPS employees with leaking packages.

Hazmat reviews are also performed on previously fulfilled merchant-converted FBA products. They do this because they have Hazmat-enabled facilities, and all products in this category must be stored and managed to protect Amazon employees and customers.

What do the sellers need to know about Amazon hazmat?

Sellers should ensure they are aware of all relevant regulations when shipping hazardous materials:

Sellers must be familiar with the United Nations (UN) Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which is used to classify dangerous goods according to their physical and chemical properties. The nine classes range from flammable liquids to corrosives and explosives.
Each product must also be labeled according to GHS standards and with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 704 diamond symbol.
The packaging materials should be chosen carefully. The shipping box must have enough strength to protect its contents, and other markings or labels should not obscure any labeling.

Hazardous materials safety administration and amazon require all sellers to comply with the regulations and standards for hazmat shipping. With this information, amazon sellers can take all necessary steps to ensure a safe and compliant experience when shipping hazmat items on Amazon. By following amazon’s guidelines, amazon sellers can avoid costly fines and penalties while still delivering essential items safely.

Tips for Resolving Hazmat Reviews

If a product is in amazon flags during an Amazon hazmat review process, sellers should take steps to rectify the issue immediately. You need to create a new SKU for non-compliant products and ship them from a third-party fulfillment center. It will keep products out of FBA fulfillment centers until they can be corrected or compliant.

Another way to resolve any amazon hazmat review process is to hire an Inventory Management Expert (IME). This individual will review the product and address any non-compliant labels or packaging.

What Is the Purpose of Hazmat Shipping Regulations?

These requirements aim to enhance the security of hazardous materials transported in commerce.

To some extent, hazmat goods contain elements that make them high-risk products. Consider electronic devices, auto parts, oils, and cosmetics. Amazon FBA sellers must know which products pose potential safety or health hazards. Brands can ensure the safe storage, handling, transportation, and use of such items in this manner.

What Are the Different Classes of Hazmat?

Hazmat items are dangerous products that may contain toxic or flammable components in addition to explosive substances, narcotics substances, and weapons. Some notable Hazmat items on Amazon include battery-powered lithium products, items containing non-harmful chemicals, and magnetic materials.

There are different classes of Hazmat on Amazon, which are determined by the type of product and its potential hazard. The four classes of Hazmat are:

Class 1: Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Class 2: Gasses

Class 3: Flammable Solids

Class 4: Spontaneously Combustible and Dangerous When Wet.

You can check the product’s label on Seller Central on Amazon to determine which class your product falls into.

Here are a few hazmat examples of amazon products includes:

Apparel
Essential oils
Hairspray
Insect repellent
Food and Beverages
Toys
Perfume
Shoes
Books
Lithium Batteries power products such as cellphones, laptops, cameras, tablets, or chargers.
Cosmetics and makeup
Refills pet products ear

Sellers who sell various products must understand how to identify hazmat products and follow the platform’s procedures for safely handling them.

These red flags, however, only sometimes indicate that your product is safe. A minor ingredient, such as sodium, can sometimes trigger a hazmat review. Because Amazon frequently flags non-harmful products, this can be a significant issue for FBA sellers.

For more information about the examples or classification of hazmat items, you can also visit the list of products generally categorized as Hazmat on Amazon Seller Central.

What should the FBA Dangerous good sellers need to do?

Consult with a hazmat specialist to ensure compliance with Amazon’s regulations. They can help you properly package and label products and guide avoiding penalties.

FBA Dangerous Goods Program

If you plan to sell amazon hazmat products, you must enroll in the FBA Dangerous Goods program. This program is intended for businesses that sell dangerous FBA-eligible items.

To participate in the program, you must create a new account on Amazon’s website. You can register for the program once you have created an account in the Amazon seller center. You can list your hazmat products on Amazon once you have registered.

If you are still determining whether your product is Hazmat, consult the Product Classification Guidelines. You can contact Amazon’s customer service if you have questions about the program.

What Hazmat cannot be sold through Fulfillment By Amazon?

If any of these labels appear on your product’s Safety Data Sheets, you cannot sell them.

These are highly toxic and dangerous products that, if mishandled, can easily injure or kill someone.

Examples include:

Acids with a high potency
Explosives
Petroleum
Canisters containing gas.
Insects

In most cases, identifying hazardous products is straightforward. It’s easy to determine whether or not Amazon has classified a product as hazardous materials by looking up the products to their Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN).

If you received a hazmat or hazmat review error message when attempting to list in the category, you could check the status of the ASIN in Seller Central. Here are the steps:

1. Navigate to the FBA Dangerous Goods program page in Seller Central.

2. Scroll down to the Manage Dangerous Goods Classification workflow, select Look Up an ASIN, and then click Next.

3. Enter the ASIN you want to check and click Check status.

4. They will notify you of the status if it’s:

Not a hazardous good
Deliverable Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods Inspection

What Effect Does Hazmat Have on Your Sales?

If Amazon classifies your products as Dangerous Goods or Amazon Hazards, the conversion rate of your listing may suffer significantly. Typically, you’ll have to stop selling until the issue is resolved. It will also divert your attention away from other activities (such as marketing or product improvement) that you could be doing to take your business to another level.

Once Amazon labels your products as dangerous goods, your supplies will be stuck for weeks as they take them off their frequent fulfillment system and automatically transfer them to a “hazmat capable facility.”

The transfer to a hazmat facility takes at least two weeks. Suppose you successfully get the product approved as non-DG again. In that case, Amazon must transfer the inventory from the Hazmat FC to regular fulfillment centers, which takes at least another two weeks.

You’ll have little to no sales for at least four weeks. As previously stated, it is critical to be proactive when dealing with potentially hazmat-flagged products.

What Happens When Hazmat Products Are Labeled?

If you received a message on Amazon Hazmat, Amazon wants to learn more about the product to ensure its safety. They are simply gathering product information.

You must include a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) from the manufacturer when shipping hazardous materials to Amazon. Amazon will use this information to review and categorize the products and ensure they are properly handled, stored, and transported.

Amazon will request a Safety data sheet or a Battery exemption sheet, both of which must be submitted via the Manage hazardous material categorization website.

What Are the Requirements for Shipping Hazmat on Amazon?

If the products you are shipping to Amazon are classified as hazardous materials, you must include a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) from the manufacturer. Amazon will use this information to review and categorize the products and ensure they are properly handled, stored, and transported.

What Are the Different Options for Shipping Hazmat on Amazon?

Regarding shipping hazardous materials on Amazon, there are several classifications to consider. Class 1 (explosives), Class 2 (gasses), Class 3 (flammable liquids), Class 7 (radioactive materials), and Class 9 are examples (of miscellaneous dangerous goods).

When it comes to packaging, labeling, and shipping, each of these classes has different requirements. Class 1 items, for example, must be shipped in special containers that can withstand an explosion. Class 2 items, on the other hand, must be delivered in leak-proof packaging.

It is good to consult with a professional shipping company that specializes in hazardous materials to ensure that you comply with the rules and regulations for shipping hazmat on Amazon. They can advise you on the best method of shipping your specific item.

What Are Some Tips for Successfully Shipping Hazmat on Amazon?

When shipping Hazmat on Amazon, it’s essential to follow all regulations and Amazon’s best practices to ensure safety and successful delivery. Here are some tips to help you ship Hazmat on Amazon:

Hazmat items must be appropriately labeled and packaged according to regulations.
Amazon requires that you have a valid shipping contract with a hazmat-certified carrier.
Creating a particular hazmat shipping plan in your Amazon account would be best.
Be sure to have accurate information about the hazardous materials being shipped.
Following these tips can help ensure a safe and successful hazmat shipping experience on Amazon.

Hazmat Review Process

If your products are under the Hazmat review process, they will require you to submit additional documentation. Generally, have two options:

Submit a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

If your product is classified as dangerous goods, this SDS is sometimes known as the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The information included in an SDS is the following:

Product name and usage
Labels and substances
Hazards
Protective equipment and safety storage instruction
Disposal

This Safety Data Sheet must also have been issued within the last five years and be valid for the same product. The product name/SKU also specified on the SDS must match.

Submit an SDS Exemption Sheet

If your product is not classified as a non-dangerous product. They will require you to specify the following information:

ASIN
Caution label (if any)
Product name
Full ingredients list

Related Source: Standard SDS Sections

What happens if I cannot provide the SDS or SDS exemption sheet?

Your product will remain suspended until you can either submit the SDS or SDS/MSDS exemption sheet since hazmat documentation submission is mandatory.

Amazon requires that, so you must submit the documentation within four business days.

How can Amazon Hazmat Reviews be resolved quickly?

Here are some things you can do ahead of time to manage Hazmat reviews better when they occur:

Using Fulfillment by Merchant, create a new Stock Keeping Unit. If Amazon labels your products as dangerous goods, you can immediately create an alternate Stock Keeping Unit for Fulfillment by Merchant to sell. Rather than relying on Amazon to fulfill your orders, you’ll have complete control over inventory management and shipping.
If you fulfill your orders yourself, you will not be charged any service fees by Amazon. However, you will have more responsibilities than you would with Amazon FBA. More storage can be requested through Seller Central Support.
Your hazmat fulfillment options may be impacted if your product is designated as dangerous goods. Inventory restocking and storage capacity for Dangerous Goods products are limited. To request more storage space, you must contact Seller Central Support. Remember that larger sellers’ requests are more likely to be accepted.
Start hiring an Inventory Management Expert. If the process is too complicated for you, hire someone to handle all the paperwork and keep you on track. Before submitting the Safety Data Sheet to Amazon, extensive discussions with the manufacturer are frequently required.

Hiring a team of experts to manage the complexities of hazmat products—keeping up with dynamic changes from Hazmat reviews, maintaining inventory responsibilities for your brand, and ensuring compliance—can save you a lot of time and headaches knowing that your inventory and hazmat concerns are in good hands, freeing up your time to work on other aspects of your Amazon store.

Conclusion

Sellers must be aware of the potential hazards associated with their products and take steps to ensure that all products are handled safely. Following Amazon’s hazardous materials policies can help sellers maintain safety standards and protect their customers. These policies require sellers to store, handle, package, and ship items in a safe manner.

Doing so can help safeguard the business and its customers and provide a safe and worry-free product experience. Sellers need to understand that following Amazon’s hazardous materials policies is an investment in the long-term success of their business.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How do you ship hazardous materials?

A: Prepare a shipping paper describing the Hazmat products, including the UN identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group, quantity, number, and type of packages, emergency contact information, and a shipper’s certification if required.

Q: How Does Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) Work for Selling Hazmat?

A: Hazardous goods storage and transportation are prohibited under FBA policies. But you can still sell these items on Amazon if you manage fulfillment and shipping.