FBA product barcode requirements

Fulfillment by Amazon uses barcodes to identify and track inventory throughout the fulfillment process. Each item that you send to an Amazon fulfillment center requires a barcode.

There are three kinds of barcodes for identifying products:

Manufacturer barcodes (eligible barcodes include UPC, EAN, JAN, and ISBN)
Amazon barcodes (such as FNSKU)
Transparency authenticity code (brand owner only, may be required to help prevent counterfeit)

Note: If your brand has been approved for Amazon Brand Registry and you don’t have a manufacturer barcode for your products, you can apply for a GTIN exemption.

Manufacturer barcodes

By default, Amazon will use the manufacturer barcode to track eligible inventory throughout the fulfillment process, unless you change your barcode setting. When more than one seller has inventory with the same manufacturer barcode, Amazon may fulfill orders with inventory that’s closest to the customer to facilitate faster delivery.

In addition, if you use the manufacturer barcode, you won’t be required to apply an Amazon barcode sticker to each item. To learn more, go to Use virtual tracking to commingle inventory. If your product is not eligible for virtual tracking with the manufacturer barcode, an Amazon barcode will be required.

If your product doesn’t meet the virtual-tracking eligibility requirements, you may be able to get an exemption to use the manufacturer barcode by applying with Amazon Brand Registry and enrolling your ASIN in the program. Non-brand-registered sellers would be required to apply Amazon barcodes for the ineligible product.

Note: If you are the manufacturer or the brand owner and want to print barcodes directly on the product packaging, you can apply for a GS1 standard UPC barcode.

Amazon barcodes

Amazon barcodes must be applied to all products that are not tracked using the manufacturer barcode. These products include the following:

Products that are not in new condition
Products that don’t have a scannable UPC, EAN, JAN, or ISBN barcode
Restricted products and dangerous goods
Products with an expiration date
Consumable or topical products
Media products
Toys and baby products

You can print Amazon barcodes and apply them to your products yourself, or you can have Amazon print and apply them for a per-item fee. For more information, go to Use an Amazon barcode to track inventory and FBA Label Service.

Note: Products that require additional packaging such as bagging or bubble wrap can be tracked by manufacturer barcode or Amazon barcode. However, prepped item will require labeling. For more information, go to Label products.

Transparency authenticity codes

Transparency codes are item-level authentication stickers that help protect brand owners and customers from counterfeit. Transparency codes are accompanied by a Transparency “T” logo and must not cover or be covered by any other label. To learn more and see a sample sticker, go to the Transparency page.

Note: Products enrolled in the Transparency program are eligible for virtual tracking, except for products in the Toys & Games and Baby Products categories, dangerous goods, and expiration-dated products. The categories eligible for Transparency may be subject to change by Amazon. To learn more, go to Transparency 2D barcode requirements.

To learn more, see the Fulfillment by Amazon Labeling Guide.

FBA product barcode requirements

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