Overview

Starting March 31, 2026, Amazon will stop mixing inventory from different sellers in its fulfillment centers. The policy introduces separate barcode rules: brand‑registered owners can keep manufacturer barcodes, while all other sellers must label every unit with an Amazon‑generated FNSKU. The shift affects every FBA participant because it changes how inventory is prepared, shipped, and tracked.

Key Points

• Commingling eliminated — Identical items from multiple sellers will no longer be pooled; each unit will stay linked to the seller who shipped it.
• Brand‑registry advantage — Sellers listed as the brand’s official representative may rely on the original UPC/EAN/JAN/ISBN without adding an FNSKU sticker.
• Universal FNSKU requirement for resellers — Any seller without brand‑representative status must affix an Amazon FNSKU to every product, even if the item already carries a manufacturer barcode.
• No‑barcode items unchanged — Products lacking any manufacturer code still need an Amazon‑issued label, regardless of seller type.
• Label‑cost impact — Resellers can expect an added expense of roughly $0.02–$0.05 per label plus labor time for each unit prepared.
• Inventory flexibility for brands — Brand owners can move stock between FBA, FBM, and other channels without re‑labeling, simplifying multi‑channel fulfillment.

How the New Barcode System Works

1. Identify seller classification — Amazon checks whether the account is enrolled in Brand Registry with the brand‑representative role. Example: A company that owns the “EcoGear” trademark and has completed the Brand Registry process is classified as a brand owner.
2. Determine barcode source —
   • Brand owners: Amazon accepts the existing manufacturer barcode (e.g., UPC 123456789012) and skips the FNSKU step.
   • Resellers: Amazon generates a unique FNSKU (e.g., X001‑ABC123) for each SKU, regardless of any UPC already on the product.