2024-07-05 · 9 min read
Amazon Hazmat Products: How to List and Ship Dangerous Goods
What qualifies as a hazmat product on Amazon, how to get hazmat approval for FBA, and what documentation you need.
Many common products contain lithium batteries, flammable materials, or other regulated substances that classify them as dangerous goods (hazmat) under Amazon's policies. Listing and shipping hazmat products through FBA requires going through Amazon's dangerous goods review process.
What qualifies as hazmat
Products with lithium batteries (laptops, phones, e-cigarettes, certain toys and tools), aerosols (sprays, cleaning products), flammable liquids or solids (solvents, adhesives, certain cleaning agents), compressed gases, corrosives, and products containing magnets above certain strength thresholds.
A product does not need to be overtly dangerous to qualify as hazmat. A wireless earbuds case with a lithium battery is a hazmat product even though it is a common consumer item.
The dangerous goods review process
When you try to create an FBA shipment for a potentially hazmat product, Amazon will often flag it for review. You need to submit a Safety Data Sheet (SDS, formerly called MSDS) and an exemption sheet.
The SDS comes from your product manufacturer and describes the product's hazardous properties, handling requirements, and emergency procedures. If your manufacturer cannot provide one, use SDS authoring services.
The exemption sheet (Amazon's template) confirms the product meets UN regulations for consumer goods and is safe to transport.
Hazmat storage fee
Hazmat products stored in Amazon's fulfillment centers are charged at a higher storage fee rate. As of 2024, hazmat storage costs approximately double the standard rate. Factor this into your profit calculations.
Products blocked from FBA
Some products cannot be fulfilled by Amazon at all regardless of documentation: products prohibited by law in certain states, products containing certain chemicals at concentrations above regulatory limits, and products Amazon has determined pose unacceptable risk.
FBM as an alternative
If your product fails Amazon's hazmat review or the fees make FBA uneconomical, Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM) is an option. However, you must still comply with carrier requirements for shipping dangerous goods. USPS, UPS, and FedEx have their own dangerous goods shipping rules that you must follow when shipping hazmat products as FBM.
Working with a hazmat consultant
If you have a large catalog of hazmat products, consider hiring a dangerous goods compliance consultant to prepare your SDS documents and ensure your listings meet regulatory requirements. Errors in hazmat documentation can result in fines and listing removal.