Overview

Amazon requires specific packaging certification for televisions sold as new-condition offers through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Starting in 2018, TVs from certain manufacturers must carry ISTA 6-SIOC (Ships in Own Container) certified packaging to remain eligible for FBA listing. Sellers offering non-certified TV inventory face listing suppression, storage fees, and mandatory removal from Amazon fulfillment centers.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• ISTA 6-SIOC certification is mandatory — Televisions from the 2018 model year onward must have certified packaging to qualify for new-condition FBA offers. This is not optional or advisory.
• Non-compliant inventory will be suppressed — Listings with TVs that lack proper certification will be removed from search results and become ineligible for sale through FBA.
• Storage fees still apply during removal — Even after suppression, sellers are responsible for storage fees on non-certified inventory until it is physically removed from Amazon's warehouses.
• Only specific manufacturers are affected — The requirement currently applies to TVs from LG, Samsung, and TCL, though Amazon may expand this list over time.
• Screen size thresholds vary by model year — The certification requirement kicks in at different screen sizes depending on whether the TV is a 2018 or 2019 model.

Size and Model Year Requirements

The packaging certification requirement is not a blanket rule for all televisions. Amazon applies specific criteria based on model year and screen size. For 2018 model year TVs, the ISTA 6-SIOC certification is required for units with a screen size of 40 inches or larger. The threshold drops for 2019 models, where any TV with a screen size of 32 inches or larger must carry the certification. This means that as newer model years are introduced, the size threshold becomes more inclusive, potentially capturing a larger portion of the TV market sold through FBA.

What Is ISTA 6-SIOC Certification?

ISTA 6-SIOC is a standardized packaging test developed and approved by the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA). The test simulates the real-world journey a product takes from the manufacturer's facility to an Amazon fulfillment center and then onward to the end customer. It evaluates whether both the packaging and the product inside can withstand the physical stresses of handling and transportation, including parcel delivery and less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments. The "Ships in Own Container" designation means the product's retail packaging must be robust enough to ship without an additional outer box, which is standard practice for large items like televisions in Amazon's fulfillment network.