Overview

On 14 August 2024 Amazon will add a new inbound‑ineligibility code—FBA_INB_0342—to the JSON response of the getItemEligibilityPreview API. The flag indicates that a product cannot be shipped to Amazon fulfillment centers using the manufacturer‑issued barcode (UPC, EAN, or ISBN). Sellers who depend on barcode‑based inbound shipments need to recognize the new code, understand how it is returned, and adjust their preparation processes to keep inventory moving.

Key Points

• New enum value — The API now includes FBA_INB_0342, a dedicated identifier for barcode‑related inbound restrictions.
• Effective date — The change becomes active on 14 August 2024, so any eligibility request made on or after that day may contain the new code.
• Message payload — When the code appears, the response carries a clear text such as “This offer is no longer eligible to use manufacturer barcodes for inbound shipments.”
• Targeted scope — The flag applies exclusively to offers that attempt to use a manufacturer‑provided UPC, EAN, or ISBN for FBA inbound; other eligibility reasons (size, weight, hazardous material, etc.) continue to use existing codes.
• Granular preview — The eligibility preview continues to give sellers a pre‑shipment health check, now with finer granularity that separates barcode issues from generic ineligibility.
• Remediation options — Amazon advises sellers to switch to a brand‑registered barcode, obtain a GS1‑issued identifier, or generate Amazon‑specific FNSKU labels to resolve the restriction.

How getItemEligibilityPreview Works (What’s Changing)

1. Submit eligibility request — A seller calls the endpoint with a SKU, ASIN, or product identifier and indicates the intended inbound method. Example: The seller sends a request for ASIN B07XYZ1234, specifying that units will be shipped using the existing UPC 123456789012.
2. Backend evaluation — Amazon’s eligibility engine cross‑checks the supplied barcode against the current inbound policy list, which now includes the new barcode restriction rule. : The engine detects that UPC 123456789012 is on the prohibited list for FBA inbound and marks it as ineligible.