Overview

Amazon requires all sellers to understand and comply with its dangerous goods (hazmat) regulations before listing certain products through Fulfillment by Amazon. Dangerous goods are substances or materials that could pose health, safety, or environmental risks during storage, handling, or transportation due to flammable, pressurized, corrosive, or otherwise hazardous properties. This guide breaks down how Amazon identifies and classifies these products, what documentation sellers need to provide, and which items are restricted or prohibited from FBA entirely.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Everyday products can be classified as hazmat — Common consumer items such as laptops, smartphones, household cleaners, spray paints, and cosmetics may be regulated as dangerous goods, even if they seem harmless to the average consumer.
• Classification is product-specific, not category-based — Amazon does not maintain a pre-defined list of dangerous goods by product type. Instead, each unique finished product is evaluated based on its specific physical and chemical properties.
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are essential — Sellers must upload Safety Data Sheets and, where applicable, exemption sheets through Amazon's dangerous goods classification tool in Seller Central.
• Nine hazmat classes exist — Dangerous goods are organized into nine distinct classes based on their characteristics, and some classes or divisions are completely prohibited from FBA fulfillment.
• Documentation is required even for non-regulated products — Amazon may request dangerous goods information and documentation for products that are ultimately determined not to be hazmat, as part of its review process.
• Non-compliance can result in listing removal or account suspension — Failing to properly identify and document hazardous materials can lead to serious consequences for seller accounts.

How Amazon Classifies Dangerous Goods

Amazon's classification system is rooted in the physical and chemical makeup of each individual product. There is no shortcut based on product type or category — a bottle of perfume and a can of compressed air are evaluated entirely on their own merits. This means sellers cannot assume a product is safe simply because similar items appear unregulated. When a product is flagged for review, Amazon's hazmat team examines the Safety Data Sheet and other submitted documentation to determine the appropriate classification. Sellers can initiate this process through the dangerous goods classification tool available in Seller Central, which walks them through uploading the required paperwork.