Overview

Amazon has lowered the eligibility bar for automatic enrollment in its Pan‑European FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) program. Effective April 2024, sellers need active listings in only two of the four core EU marketplaces instead of all four, provided any missing listings are exempted for valid reasons such as language‑specific category rules or product restrictions. This change expands access to lower‑cost local fulfillment and faster delivery for many European sellers.

Key Points

• Active‑listing threshold cut in half — Sellers qualify with active listings and inventory in just two EU countries, down from the previous four‑country requirement.
• Automatic ASIN‑level exemptions — Listings blocked by language‑only categories, restricted product classifications, or account blocks are automatically excluded from the two‑country rule.
• Local fulfillment fee advantage — Enrolled sellers pay the cheaper local Pan‑European FBA rates in each market where they have inventory, instead of higher cross‑border EFN fees.
• Unlimited grace period (for now) — Exempted ASINs remain eligible indefinitely, though Amazon plans to introduce time‑limited grace periods later in 2024 with at least 30 days’ notice.
• New Seller Central reporting tool – A downloadable report now shows every ASIN currently benefiting from an exemption, helping sellers plan inventory and monitor upcoming policy shifts.

How the Exemption System Works

1. Eligibility assessment — Amazon scans each seller’s catalog. If an ASIN has active listings and stocked inventory in at least two of the four core EU stores (Germany, France, Italy, Spain), it passes the basic eligibility test.
2. Exemption detection — For any missing active listing, Amazon checks the reason. If the listing is inactive because the product falls under a language‑only category (e.g., French‑only books), is prohibited in that country’s product taxonomy, or the seller’s account is blocked locally, Amazon automatically grants an exemption for that ASIN.
3. Enrollment activation — Once the two‑country rule and any applicable exemptions are satisfied, the ASIN is enrolled in Pan‑European FBA. The system then routes orders to the nearest fulfillment center that holds inventory in the buyer’s country, applying the local fulfillment fee structure.