Have you submitted an ASIN to Amazon, uploaded descriptions and images, ensured sufficient inventory, only to learn that the product has not been approved? Your product might be stuck in Hazmat review. Now what?
What is Hazmat?
Hazmat, also known as Hazardous Materials or Dangerous Goods, is defined by Amazon as substances or materials that can pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment while being stored, handled or transported due to the fact that they contain flammable, pressurized, corrosive, or otherwise harmful substances.
Your product can be flagged as Hazmat if it contains flammable gases, non-flammable, non-toxic gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, or organic peroxides, or is toxic, corrosive, or sensitive to fluctuations in temperature or air pressure.
As an Amazon seller or vendor, it is your responsibility to know whether or not the products you are shipping are regulated as Dangerous Goods and to ensure that the product information you provide complies with all applicable laws and regulations.
What information do you need to provide to Amazon?
If the products you are shipping to Amazon are defined as Hazmat, you must submit a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) that you obtain from the manufacturer. Amazon will use this information to review and categorize the products and ensure that they are handled, stored, and transported properly. Violations will result in fines or penalties imposed against you and may delay the launch of your product on the site.
Watch this video for an Introduction to Safety Data Sheets.
What are the Amazon SDS Requirements?
It is very important that the submitted SDS fulfills the below requirements, otherwise your form will be rejected, delaying the launch of your product further:
- Be updated within the past five years
- Match your product listing (ASIN title should be the same as the product name on the SDS)
- Include supplier information (section 1 of the SDS) that corresponds to the supplier information in the product label
- Include all 16 standard SDS sections
It is best to submit your SDS as a link per each ASIN, at the same time as item setup, so your ASIN can undergo review while it is being processed. Sellers can also upload SDS using this upload link. Even if you are sure that your product is not regulated as a dangerous good, Amazon recommends providing any available dangerous goods information or documentation when submitting your listing to avoid delays in approval.
Hazmat review will result in one of several options:
- The ASIN was reviewed and identified as Not Hazmat.
- The ASIN was reviewed and identified as Hazmat.
- The ASIN was reviewed but couldn't be classified since additional information is required to classify the product.
- The ASIN was reviewed but couldn't be classified since the uploaded documentation is incomplete.
- The ASIN was reviewed but couldn't be classified since the uploaded documentation does not match the product.
If your ASIN receives #3-#5 as feedback, double-check your SDS form to ensure all the information meets the criteria. One common mistake is that the title does not match the ASIN exactly.
SDS Form Common Mistakes
- The product name or brand on the SDS does not exactly match the product name or brand on the detail page.
- Information in the hazard identification section and the transportation section conflicts. For example, the hazard identification section states the product is flammable but the transportation section does not.
- The SDS does not contain all 16 mandatory sections.
- The product’s flash point is below 140 degrees Fahrenheit but the product is declared as not regulated, instead of flammable, in the transportation section.
- The SDS is either not dated or is over 5 years old.
- The seller uploaded an invalid document instead of an SDS, such as a test report or certification sheet.
Examples of Dangerous Goods:
Below is an example of what is considered a dangerous good in the beauty and personal care category. Click here for an comprehensive cross-category list.
Beauty and Personal care
- Spray deodorants
- Hairspray
- Hair colors
- Perfume
- Self-tanning lotions and sprays
- Antiseptics and disinfectants
- Verruca and wart treatments
- Insect repellents
- Aftershave treatments
- Cleaning cartridges (electric shavers)
- Hair removal solutions and treatments
- Shaving creams or foams
- Nail polish
For more information about safety data sheets, see Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheets on the OSHA website.
For information about dangerous goods, see the Dangerous goods identification guide.
For more information about products containing batteries, see Requirements for lithium batteries and products that contain lithium batteries.
Stella Rising leads the way in providing end-to-end Amazon Services as part of a cross-channel e-commerce approach. Want to chat with us about how to turn your rising star brand into a superstar on Amazon? Contact us today!
Source: Amazon Seller Central
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