Amazon SDS Requirements for Sellers and FBA Review
Amazon may ask for a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or an exemption sheet when it reviews a product for dangerous-goods classification. For sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), the information can affect how the product is stored and fulfilled. A complete SDS that matches the listing and label helps Amazon review the right product, although Amazon makes the final classification and eligibility decisions.
If you are preparing to list a chemical product or Amazon has questioned a document you submitted start by checking the product identity, hazards, transport information and requirements of the marketplace where you intend to sell.
When does Amazon ask for an SDS?
Amazon reviews products that may present storage or transport hazards. Common examples include household cleaners, spray paints, some cosmetics, aerosols and products with batteries. A product does not have to seem hazardous to the seller for Amazon to request more information. Depending on the product, Amazon may request an SDS or an exemption sheet through Seller Central.
An SDS describes a product’s hazards, composition, safe handling, storage and transport information. Amazon uses this information as part of its dangerous-goods review. A request for an SDS does not itself mean Amazon has classified the product as dangerous goods; an exemption sheet also does not guarantee a non-dangerous-goods classification.
Dangerous-goods transport classification and workplace health-hazard classification answer different questions. For example, a product might be classified as an irritant for hazard communication without necessarily being a dangerous good for transport. The SDS, product details and applicable transport rules need to tell a consistent story.
What does Amazon check on an SDS?
Before submitting an SDS, compare it against both the Amazon listing and the product label. Amazon documentation expectations cited in its Seller Central guidance include:
- A creation or revision date within the previous five years.
- All 16 standard SDS sections, in the correct order.
- A product name and manufacturer or brand that match the listing.
- Information consistent with the product label, including hazard details.
- An SDS in the language requested for the country where the product is sold.
Also check that hazard statements and Section 14 transport information are accurate and internally consistent. The five-year point above is an Amazon documentation expectation; it should not be described as a universal legal expiry date for every SDS. Applicable regulations may require an update when product or hazard information changes.
Consider a private label cleaner sold under a new trade name. The formulation may be unchanged, but an SDS bearing only the original manufacturer’s product name may not clearly identify the item on the Amazon listing. Review the SDS, listing and label together before resubmission.
What should you do if Amazon rejects your SDS?
Start with the reason Amazon provided in Seller Central, then work through the documents in this order:
- Confirm the SDS belongs to the exact product and formulation in the listing.
- Compare the product name, brand or manufacturer, and label information across the SDS and listing.
- Check the date, section order, marketplace language, hazard classification and transport details.
- Correct any underlying SDS or label issue, then resubmit the requested document through Amazon’s dangerous-goods classification process.
Do not change a hazard classification simply to secure approval. If the information is disputed or unclear, a regulatory review can establish what the product documentation should say. Incomplete or conflicting information may lead Amazon to request a correction or further documentation and can delay FBA decisions.
Can you use the same SDS in every Amazon marketplace?
Do not assume that one generic SDS will meet every market’s rules. Workplace SDS requirements, language and consumer label requirements vary by jurisdiction. An SDS written for the United States, for example, should be reviewed before it is used for a Canadian or European listing. Consumer product labels may have requirements distinct from workplace GHS labels. Amazon’s document review does not replace those local obligations.
How can Nexreg help Amazon sellers?
Nexreg helps manufacturers and sellers prepare documentation for the product and the market in which it will be sold:
- You do not have an SDS. Nexreg can review product information and prepare a jurisdiction-appropriate SDS. Explore SDS authoring services
- Amazon questioned your SDS. Nexreg can assess an existing SDS for regulatory gaps, outdated content, internal inconsistencies and product-identification issues. Explore SDS review services
- You sell in multiple countries. Nexreg can help determine the SDS, language and label requirements for each intended market. Explore Amazon SDS and label services
Amazon makes its own classification, acceptance and FBA eligibility decisions. Nexreg’s role is to help ensure the supporting documentation accurately represents the product and addresses the applicable market requirements.
Need an SDS prepared or reviewed for an Amazon listing? Contact Nexreg with your product details, intended marketplace and any feedback Amazon has provided.
Sources
Amazon: What FBA sellers should know about dangerous goods
Amazon Seller Central: Safety Data Sheet
Amazon Seller Central: Dangerous goods information and documentation
OSHA: Hazard Communication Standard, Appendix D
Health Canada: Supplier hazard communication requirements under WHMIS
