Amazon has become a significant hub for individual sellers and small businesses trying to reach a wider audience. As the world shifts from its old brick-and-mortar status quo into an increasingly online marketplace, even businesses that didn’t have much of an online presence before have adjusted to meet the moment.
However, many companies run into a roadblock by the requirement to be a member of the Hazmat Dangerous Goods Program on Amazon. Even sellers who may not be selling what they consider to be dangerous goods, such as electronics, are coming up against this hurdle right before being able to set up shop. So, what is the Hazmat Dangerous Goods Program, how does it work, and how do you become a member? Let’s take a look.
What Is the Hazmat Dangerous Goods Program on Amazon?
In order to be eligible for FBA, or Fulfillment By Amazon, sellers need to ensure that the products they’re selling are FBA-eligible. To that end, Amazon has set up what’s known as the Dangerous Goods Program to set up safety measures before sellers can ship dangerous goods.
Amazon classifies dangerous goods as anything that might create a risk during the shipping process from the time it’s stored, handled, and shipped. Aside from harmful substances and infectious substances, anything pressurized, corrosive, or flammable qualifies as a dangerous good.
Many sellers, especially those who sell electronics, find themselves ineligible to sell certain items at first. Because of their batteries and the fire or explosion risk involved, Amazon commonly classifies smartphones, laptops, and other consumer electronics as dangerous goods. This can even apply to household cleaners, cosmetics, and beauty products due to the chemicals that certain products contain.
The good news here is that if you carry a product or products that Amazon reclassifies as dangerous, they will put you on a waitlist for consideration to the Hazmat Dangerous Goods Program on Amazon. However, if the product you’re trying to sell is already on the list, you’ll need to apply manually. Once you are in the program, dangerous goods are eligible for Prime.
How Does Dangerous Goods Classification Work?
Whether or not you’re in the Hazmat Dangerous Goods Program on Amazon, the products you sell need to be correctly classified. Amazon will set any products not properly classified to inactive status, which means you can’t sell or restock them until they’re classified.
In order to change this, you must classify dangerous goods correctly, and you must also be part of the Dangerous Goods Program. Along with that, the goods themselves need to be in a fulfillment center equipped to handle dangerous goods.
It’s essential to know the classification of your goods because Amazon will dispose of dangerous goods prohibited for fulfillment—and at the seller’s expense.
What Information Do I Need to Provide?
Once you’ve created the listing for your product, Amazon might require you to provide a safety data sheet, or SDS. The company may also require an exemption sheet. Once you’ve received one or both of these, you should fill out the required information and get that back to Amazon as soon as possible. Any delays could result in delayed shipments and canceled deliveries. The exact procedure depends on whether the dangerous good is a new listing or an existing one.
New Listings
When you create or convert a listing, you’ll need to include information about batteries and dangerous goods more generally. Here is some of the information you’ll need to supply for a new listing:
● Specifications on how batteries are used in the product
● Type of batteries used as well as their size
● Total number of batteries in the product
● Total weight of the battery or batteries
● Number of cells in each battery
● Packaging of any lithium batteries
● Total Watt-hours for each battery
● Total lithium content for each battery
Existing Listings
Existing listings need to have complete and accurate classification information before they can be eligible for Fulfillment by Amazon. To make your listings eligible, you’ll need to complete a safety data sheet, an exemption sheet, or both. In order to comply with Amazon’s regulations, your SDS must:
● Be five years old or newer.
● Note CLP and GHS ID information.
● Completely match your listing.
● Include the brand name or manufacturer name.
● Have all SDS sections completely filled out.
What Is the Dangerous Goods Review Process Like?
Amazon has a designated team that reviews all dangerous goods and checks to make sure that their listings are accurate. These reviews help to ensure compliance with regulations and standards for safety.
This team will start with catalog information, making it crucial for sellers to keep their information current and accurate at all times. It’s also important to note that a review will likely occur every time catalog information changes. This could result in reclassification, in which case you might need to submit a new SDS or exemption sheet.
How Long Could This Take?
The good news is that correct and complete information can lead to your review and classification within two business days. Submitting incorrect or incomplete information can delay this process, which underscores the importance of ensuring complete accuracy.
Many sellers and small business owners find that following the process and doing it all themselves can be time-consuming and frustrating. Luckily, there are companies out there that have the experience and knowledge needed to enroll sellers in Amazon’s Dangerous Goods Program.
Click Fluency Can Help
Are you looking to enroll in the Hazmat Dangerous Goods Program on Amazon? Maybe you’ve already started the process yourself but have gotten stuck and don’t know how to get your products listed.
Our dedicated team has been right where you are, and we know how to help. Someone from our team will be able to walk you through the entire process of enrolling in the program, and we can handle each step of the process for you so that you can focus more on your business. Schedule a call with Click Fluency today to get started.