FBA Updates
Amazon FBA policy changes and fee updates for the US and Canada, summarized with action steps and links to official sources.
Meltable FBA Inventory Must Be Removed by April 20, 2026
Amazon's annual meltable inventory restriction begins soon. Heat-sensitive products like chocolates, gummies, and wax-based items must be removed from FBA by April 20. Any remaining meltable inventory after May 1 will be marked unfulfillable and may be disposed of at the seller's expense. Sellers can resume sending meltables starting October 16, 2026.
Read summary →Amazon Requires Third-Party NSF Certification for Water-Connected Products
Amazon now requires all products that connect to drinking water supply systems — including faucets, valves, pipes, and water treatment devices — to carry third-party NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and 372 certification proving lead content is at or below 0.25%. Amazon no longer accepts seller-uploaded test reports; certification must come from an ANSI-accredited organization. Non-compliant listings face suppression or removal starting April 3, 2026.
Read summary →Amazon Permanently Ends Inventory Commingling
Amazon permanently ends commingling of FBA inventory. Every unit will now be tracked back to the originating seller account. Brand owners with Brand Representative role can use virtual tracking with manufacturer barcodes, but resellers must apply FNSKU stickers to all products.
Read summary →Sponsored Products/Brands AI Prompts Now Billable
Amazon's AI-powered Prompts feature for Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands moved from free beta to general availability. These ads now appear in Rufus conversational shopping and are charged as standard CPC. All campaigns are automatically enrolled.
Read summary →Amazon Introduces Paid Deal Fees for Prime Day 2026 Submissions
For the first time, Amazon is charging sellers to submit deals for Prime Day 2026. The new structure includes a $100 upfront fee per deal plus a 1.5% variable fee on promotional sales during the event, capped at $5,000. An early-bird discount reduces the upfront fee to $50 for submissions made before April 30, 2026. The deal submission window runs March 24 through May 26, 2026.
Read summary →FBA Inventory Dashboard Now Includes Demand Prediction Tool
Amazon upgraded the FBA Inventory Dashboard with a built-in demand prediction tool. Located in the Sales Summary section, it shows optimistic and average weekly demand projections based on historical sales data. Available to Brand Registered sellers with 90+ days of sales history.
Read summary →Product Opportunity Explorer Gets New Insights & Trends Tab
Amazon added an Insights & Trends tab to Product Opportunity Explorer in Seller Central. It offers four views — Demand Overview, Competition Overview, Differentiation Potential, and Momentum Tracker — with customizable trend graphs and historical comparisons at 90-day and 360-day intervals.
Read summary →DD+7 Payout Delay: Funds Held 7 Days After Delivery
Amazon now holds seller funds for 7 days after the customer's delivery date before releasing them for disbursement. This replaces the previous post-shipment model and applies to both FBA and FBM orders across the US and Canada.
Read summary →New AI Agent Policy: Automated Tools Must Identify Themselves
Amazon updated its Business Solutions Agreement to place formal requirements on AI agents and automated software. Bulk listing creation, price changes exceeding 20% in 24 hours, and account-level changes all require documented human authorization.
Read summary →Amazon Splits Reviews Across Variations with Functional Differences
Amazon will stop sharing reviews across product variations that differ in functionality, performance, formulation, or intended use. Reviews still share for minor differences like color or pattern. Rolling out by category through May 31, 2026.
Read summary →Prepaid Return Labels Now Mandatory for All US Sellers
All US marketplace sellers must now use Amazon's Prepaid Return Label (APRL) program. The previous exemption for high-value items has been eliminated. Refund cycle times shortened from 14 days to 7 days, and buyer-seller messaging during returns is removed.
Read summary →SAFE-T Claim Filing Window Shortened from 60 to 30 Days
Amazon shortened the SAFE-T claim filing window from 60 days to 30 days. Sellers must file reimbursement claims for seller-fulfilled order disputes more quickly, making prompt return processing even more critical.
Read summary →FBM Refund Processing Window Extended to 4 Calendar Days
For Fulfilled by Merchant orders, Amazon extended the refund processing window from two business days to four calendar days, giving FBM sellers slightly more time to process refunds before Amazon auto-issues them.
Read summary →Amazon Adds Overmax Handling Surcharge for Extra-Large FBA Products
Amazon introduced an Overmax Handling Fee for FBA products that exceed 96 inches on the longest side, or 130 inches in length plus girth. The surcharge stacks on top of standard Extra-Large fulfillment fees and ranges from $17 to $25 per unit depending on weight. Sellers with large furniture, sporting goods, or oversized items face significantly higher fulfillment costs.
Read summary →FBA Aged Inventory Surcharge Doubles for 12-Month Stock; New 15-Month Tier Added
Amazon raised the aged inventory surcharge for FBA products stored over 12 months and introduced a new premium tier for inventory aged 15 months or more. The 12-month rate doubled from $0.15 to $0.30 per unit, and the new 15-month threshold charges $0.35 per unit or $7.90 per cubic foot. Sellers carrying slow-moving inventory should audit stock immediately.
Read summary →FBA Fulfillment Fee Increase: Average +$0.08 Per Unit in 2026
Amazon raised FBA fulfillment fees by an average of $0.08 per unit sold. Products priced $10–$50 see roughly +$0.08/unit, while items above $50 face steeper increases of $0.31–$0.51. Products under $10 get a smaller $0.05 bump and still qualify for Low-Price FBA rates.
Read summary →Low-Inventory-Level Fee Now Calculated at FNSKU Level
The low-inventory-level fee is now calculated at the individual seller-FNSKU level instead of the parent-ASIN level. It applies when a specific FNSKU falls below 28 days of supply. The fee now also covers Small Bulky and Large Bulky products, while Grocery items are newly exempt.
Read summary →Amazon Adds Returns Processing Fee for Apparel and High-Return Categories
Amazon introduced a Returns Processing Fee for product categories that historically experience high return rates, including clothing, footwear, and fashion accessories. The fee is charged per returned unit when a category's return rate exceeds Amazon's threshold, adding a new cost layer for apparel FBA sellers beyond standard fulfillment fees.
Read summary →Inbound Defect Fees Consolidated and Significantly Increased
Amazon consolidated inbound defect fees into a single charge for misrouted, deleted, or abandoned units. Fee amounts increased substantially — from $0.02–$0.07 in 2025 to $0.32–$1.74 for standard-size products in 2026.
Read summary →Amazon AWD Storage and Transportation Fees Rise Up to 22% in 2026
Amazon raised Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) fees effective January 15, 2026. West region storage climbed 19% to $0.57 per cubic foot per month, and AWD transportation rates rose 22% to $1.26 per cubic foot. Sellers using AWD for upstream bulk storage and replenishment now face meaningfully higher carrying costs, especially those warehousing goods at Western fulfillment centers.
Read summary →MCF Fees Jump Up to $0.41 Per Unit; New Preferred Pricing Program Offers 15% Discount
Amazon raised Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) fees by $0.30–$0.41 per unit for single-unit orders effective January 15, 2026 — a much steeper increase than the $0.08 average hike for standard FBA orders. To help offset costs, Amazon launched a new MCF Preferred Pricing program offering eligible sellers up to 15% off MCF outbound fees and up to $1 in FBA credits per MCF unit shipped.
Read summary →Amazon Canada Enforces KYC Self-Attestation for All Sellers
Amazon.ca requires all Canadian sellers to submit a Self-Attestation document verifying beneficial ownership and corporate control structures, aligned with FINTRAC KYC regulations. Sellers who fail to comply risk having disbursements withheld.
Read summary →Amazon Discontinues FBA Prep and Labeling Services in the US
Amazon completely discontinued its FBA prep and item labeling services in the US. All units sent to FBA must now arrive fully prepped and labeled by the seller or a third-party prep service.
Read summary →Amazon Canada Confirms No FBA Fee Increases for 2026
Amazon confirmed no increases to Canada referral fees or FBA fulfillment fees for 2026. New FBA Liquidations program launched in Canada with 15% referral fee. Holiday peak fees maintained at same rates as previous year.
Read summary →FBA Liquidations Become Default; Donations Now Mandatory for US/CA Sellers
Amazon automatically enrolled US and Canadian FBA sellers in the Liquidations program and made the FBA Donations program mandatory. Unless sellers configure explicit automated inventory settings, unsold fulfillable inventory will be routed to liquidators at 5–10% recovery. The Donations program cannot be disabled for eligible items, regardless of prior opt-out status.
Read summary →FBA Reimbursement Claim Window Shortened from 18 Months to 60 Days
Amazon drastically shortened the window for filing FBA reimbursement claims for lost or damaged inventory — from 18 months down to just 60 days. Sellers must now file claims much more promptly or lose the ability to recover funds.
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