Overview

Amazon sellers who ship products across international borders into the European Union or United Kingdom must now provide Country of Origin (COO) information for their goods. This requirement applies to sellers using Amazon's global selling programs, including FBA Export, Remote Fulfillment with FBA, and other cross-border fulfillment options. Understanding and complying with these COO obligations is essential for avoiding shipment delays, customs holds, and potential penalties at the border.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Country of Origin defined — The COO generally refers to the country where a product was produced or manufactured. When multiple countries are involved in production, the COO is typically the country where the product underwent its last substantial transformation.
• Product-specific rules may apply — Depending on the type of product you sell, more specific COO determination rules could apply beyond the general "last substantial transformation" standard. Sellers should verify the applicable rules for their product categories.
• Cross-border scope — This requirement covers shipments from non-EU countries or territories into the EU, and from non-UK countries or territories into the UK. Domestic shipments within the EU or UK are not affected.
• Applicable programs — The COO requirement applies to Amazon's global selling program, FBA Export, and Remote Fulfillment with FBA, as well as other cross-border fulfillment mechanisms Amazon offers.
• Seller responsibility — Sellers are responsible for providing accurate COO data for their products. Incorrect or missing information can result in customs complications and delivery delays.

How Country of Origin Is Determined

The Country of Origin for any given product is based on where it was produced or manufactured. For straightforward cases where a product is entirely made in one country, the determination is simple — that country is the COO. However, in today's global supply chains, many products involve components or processing stages across multiple countries. In those situations, the COO is assigned to the country where the last substantial transformation occurred. A "substantial transformation" generally means a manufacturing or processing step that fundamentally changes the nature, form, or purpose of the product. Sellers sourcing from countries like China, Vietnam, India, or other manufacturing hubs should ensure they know exactly where their products' final transformation takes place, as this directly impacts customs declarations.