Overview

Amazon has announced it will discontinue its FBA prep and item labeling service effective May 1, 2026. This means sellers who previously relied on Amazon to apply barcode labels to their products at fulfillment centers will need to handle all labeling themselves — or find a third-party prep service — before shipping inventory to FBA. Understanding the barcode and labeling requirements is essential to avoid shipment delays and compliance issues.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Labeling service ends May 1, 2026 — Amazon will no longer apply barcode labels to products on behalf of sellers at its fulfillment centers after this date.
• Transitional pricing honored — Shipments created before the May 1 cutoff will continue to receive labeling at the existing rate of $0.55 per unit, provided the seller had already requested labeling services.
• FNSKU labels are required — If a product lacks a scannable manufacturer barcode or does not qualify for virtual tracking, sellers must apply an Amazon FNSKU barcode label to every unit before shipping.
• GTIN exemptions available — Brand Registry sellers who lack standard product identifiers like UPCs, EANs, JANs, or ISBNs can apply for a GTIN exemption rather than purchasing barcodes.
• Virtual tracking as an alternative — Eligible products can use manufacturer barcodes with Amazon's virtual tracking system, eliminating the need for individual FNSKU labels.

How FBA Labeling Works

Every product sent to an FBA fulfillment center must be identifiable through a scannable barcode. Historically, Amazon offered a paid labeling service where its warehouse staff would apply FNSKU labels to units upon arrival. With the elimination of this service, the responsibility falls entirely on sellers to ensure every item is properly labeled before it reaches the warehouse. Products arriving without the correct barcode will likely be rejected or subject to additional fees and processing delays.

Sellers have two primary barcode options. The first is the FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit), a unique Amazon-generated barcode that ties a specific unit to a specific seller. This is the default requirement. The second option is manufacturer barcode tracking, sometimes called commingled or stickerless inventory, where Amazon uses the existing UPC or EAN on the product packaging. However, manufacturer barcode tracking is only available for eligible products and carries the risk of inventory commingling with other sellers' stock.