Overview

Amazon has opened two fresh international storefronts—South Africa (amazon.co.za) and Ireland (amazon.ie)—as of early May 2024. The rollout grants sellers immediate access to new buyer pools in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dublin and surrounding regions. Simultaneously, the U.S. INFORM Act enforcement team has set a re‑verification deadline that brand owners must meet to keep their listings live on all Amazon sites.

Key Points

• Marketplace launch — The South African and Irish sites became operational on May 1, 2024, adding two distinct regional domains to Amazon’s global network.
• Population reach — South Africa adds a consumer base exceeding 60 million shoppers, while Ireland serves as a portal to the wider European Union market of over 450 million people.
• Local currency pricing — Sellers may list prices in South African Rand (ZAR) and Euro (EUR); Amazon automatically converts those amounts to the seller’s primary settlement currency during payout.
• Fulfillment flexibility — Both new marketplaces support Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Seller‑Fulfilled Prime (SFP), meaning the same stock can be used to fulfill orders in multiple regions without opening separate seller accounts.
• INFORM Act re‑verification deadline — The Federal Trade Commission requires every brand‑registered seller to upload refreshed identification and trademark proof by June 30, 2024, or risk having their listings removed.
• Enforcement timeline — Amazon will begin auto‑suspending non‑compliant listings on July 15, 2024, providing a two‑week buffer after the FTC’s deadline for sellers to correct any issues.

How the INFORM Act Re‑Verification Works

1. Document upload — Sellers sign into Seller Central, go to the Brand Registry section, and submit a current government‑issued photo ID (e.g., a U.S. passport) together with a recent trademark registration certificate (such as a USPTO record).
2. Automated validation — Amazon’s compliance engine checks the files for authenticity, confirming that the name on the ID matches the trademark holder; a mismatch instantly triggers a request for additional clarification.