Overview

Amazon enforces strict product safety policies that every seller must understand to protect their account and customers. When safety concerns arise — whether from government agencies, manufacturers, or Amazon itself — sellers face specific obligations including halting sales, removing inventory, and cooperating with regulators. Failing to respond properly can result in account suspension, financial penalties, and permanent loss of selling privileges.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Immediate compliance is mandatory — When Amazon issues a safety alert or a government agency initiates a recall, sellers must respond without delay. There is no grace period for inaction.
• Multiple types of safety actions exist — These range from early-warning safety alerts to formal recalls and stop-sale orders, each carrying different requirements and escalation levels.
• Inventory removal has a 30-day deadline — Sellers must initiate removal orders for affected inventory within 30 days. After that window, Amazon will destroy remaining stock without reimbursement.
• Sellers bear all costs — Refunds, return shipping, disposal fees, and storage charges during the process are the seller's financial responsibility.
• Reinstatement requires formal documentation — To resume selling a suppressed ASIN, sellers must submit a Letter of Compliance (LOC) on the manufacturer's letterhead along with safety certifications and testing reports.
• Amazon's Recalls Logistics Service (RLS) handles customer outreach — Unless sellers opt out within 24 hours, Amazon will manage customer communications and refunds automatically through the RLS program.

Types of Safety Actions

Amazon recognizes several categories of product safety actions, each with escalating severity. A Notice of Violation (NOV) is a formal notification indicating potential safety violations, requiring sellers to demonstrate they are actively working with regulators to resolve the issue. Safety alerts serve as early warnings about potential problems and demand immediate attention. A is more severe, requiring sellers to cease all sales immediately and obtain written regulatory approval before they can resume selling the product. occur when a seller refuses to conduct a voluntary recall, prompting the regulator to issue a public safety warning that includes product details and hazard information. In such cases, Amazon will remove listings and may issue refunds at the seller's expense.