Required dangerous goods (hazmat) information and documentation

II. UK Requirements

When listing a new product for sale in the UK, you must provide specific dangerous goods (Hazmat) information to Amazon. After your listing is created, and only if further documentation is required to properly classify your product, you will be requested to provide a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or an exemption sheet. Failure to provide this information can result in delays in processing your deliveries and in the cancellation of customer deliveries by Amazon’s carrier partners.

To learn more about dangerous goods, see the Dangerous goods identification guide and watch the following videos in Seller University:

Introduction to Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods Awareness

This page helps you learn about the following:

1. New listings: Learn more about the dangerous goods questions asked at FBA listing creation / conversion and how to answer them.
2. Existing listings: Learn more about what dangerous goods documentation you may be requested to provide after your listing has been created or converted to FBA:
   
   1. Safety Data Sheet (SDS): Learn more about what SDSs are, as well as when and how to provide them to Amazon.
   2. Exemption sheet: Learn more about what exemption sheets are, when you are allowed to submit one, as well as when and how to provide them to Amazon.

New Listings

When you create or convert a listing for FBA, you will be required to answer dangerous goods questions. One set of questions is around batteries, and another set of questions is around dangerous goods regulations. Make sure to provide accurate and complete information to ensure that your product is properly classified and not blocked for sale. See guidance below:

Battery questions

The following battery question must be answered for all products during creation or conversion of an FBA listing. Note that based on your answers, you may need to answer additional mandatory questions (detailed below):

• Is the product a battery or does it utilize batteries: Select yes if batteries are needed for the product to function or if your product is a battery. If the product does utilize batteries, please specify the appropriate packing configuration below:
  • Select Batteries only if the product is a standalone battery (for example, replacement laptop battery) or if the battery is sold with items that it does not power (for example, spare cell phone battery sold with a charger). External battery chargers (for example, power banks) are considered batteries.
  • Select Packed with if the battery is packed with, but not inside, the device it powers. For example, a cell phone with the removable battery packed alongside the phone.
  • Select Contained in if the battery is pre-installed or assembled in the item (for example, Kindle tablet).
  • Select Sold separately if the battery is not included in the product’s package.
• Composition of the battery: Select the composition of the battery from the drop-down menu (for example, alkaline, lithium-ion, etc.). This information is generally printed on the battery itself or on its packaging.

If your battery product utilizes lithium batteries, then it is a dangerous good and you will be required to provide the following additional information:

• Battery type: Select the type of battery from the drop-down menu (for example, AAA, CR123A, etc.). This information is generally printed on the battery itself or on its packaging. If you do not know the type of battery your product is using, select “Unknown”.
• Number of batteries: Input the total number of batteries, including spares.
• Battery weight: Input the total weight of all batteries included in grams. This is the weight of the standalone battery or batteries weighed outside the packaging or any device it may be used in.
• Number of cells: Input the total number of cells, including spares.
  Note: A “cell” is considered a single electrical storage unit with one positive and one negative end, whereas a “battery” is 2 or more cells connected together to form a single component. For example, a TV remote will commonly use 2 AA cells installed in the back compartment. Additionally, a single laptop battery may be composed of 6 cells enclosed within the plastic casing of the battery. Cell count information for multi-cells batteries can often be found on the packaging of the battery or in the manufacturers’ technical information.
• Lithium battery packaging: Select the correct packaging configuration from the drop-down menu describing how the battery is packaged in relation to the device (for example, batteries contained in equipment).
• Watt-hours per battery: If your product is, contains or is sold with a lithium-ion battery, input the watt-hour (Wh) rating per battery. This information is generally printed on the battery itself, on its packaging, or in the manufacturers’ technical documentation.
  Note: In cases where watt-hours is not printed, it can be calculated from the battery voltage (V) and amp-hour (Ah) rating, also commonly printed on the battery, the outer packaging, or in the manufacturers documentation. The voltage to be used when calculating watt-hours is the nominal voltage of the battery (commonly printed as simply “voltage”), not to be confused with the input voltage, output voltage, or max charging voltage. To calculate the watt-hours of your product, you can use the calculator found here.
• Lithium content per battery: If your product is, contains or is sold with a lithium-metal battery, input the lithium content of your battery, in grams. This information can generally be found in the manufacturer’s technical information.
  Note: Lithium content supplied by the manufacturer should always be used for this entry if available. If the manufacturer is unable to supply this information, an equivalent lithium content can also be calculated if the amp-hour (Ah) rating per cell is known. To calculate the equivalent lithium content per battery of your product, you can use the calculator found here.

For additional help on the battery questions, watch the following video in Seller University:Battery Questions Help

Dangerous good regulations question:

The following dangerous good question must be answered for all products during creation or conversion of an FBA listing. Note that based on your answer, you may need to answer additional mandatory questions (detailed below):

• Is this product considered a dangerous good or hazardous material regulated for transportation, storage, and/or waste: If your product is regulated as a dangerous good or hazardous material, select the appropriate regulation from the drop-down menu.

  For more information about dangerous goods, see Dangerous goods identification guideand watch Introduction to Dangerous Goods.

  If your product is not considered a dangerous good or hazardous material, select No or Not Applicable.

If your product is regulated as a dangerous good, make sure you provide the following additional information as well:

• UN number: If your product is regulated as dangerous good or hazardous material for transportation, indicate its UN number. This information can be found on the Safety Data Sheet or may be procured from the manufacturer. Include “UN” preceding the UN Number (e.g. UN1266), without any blank spaces in between.
• Product weight (kg): If your product is regulated as dangerous good or hazardous material for transportation, waste and/or storage, indicate the products weight in kilograms.
• Product volume (ml): If your product is regulated as dangerous good or hazardous material for transportation, waste and/or storage, indicate the products volume in millilitres if it is a gas or liquid.
• GHS/CLP categorisation or pictograms: If your product is considered a dangerous good or hazardous material by GHS/CLP standards, select from the drop-down menu which pictogram(s) appears on your product’s packaging or SDS.

After 31 December 2020, an amended version of the REACH Regulation will apply to the sale of chemicals and their safe use in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales, “GB”) as a result of the REACH etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/758. Products first made available in Northern Ireland (“NI”) after 31 December 2020 will continue to need to comply with the EU REACH Regulation under the Northern Ireland Protocol (see “Northern Ireland” section below).

Products that are first made available in the EU or UK on or before 31 December 2020 can continue to circulate until they reach their end user and do not need to comply with the changes that take effect from 1 January 2021. You can retain evidence of when products were first made available in the UK or EU by keeping documents including contracts of sale, invoices and documents concerning the shipping of goods for distribution.

If available, provide the following information also:

• Safety Data Sheet URL: The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) of your product can be procured from the manufacturer. More information on Safety Data Sheets is available below.
• Flash point: The flash point of a product determines its flammability. Indicate the flash point of your product in degree Celsius (ºC). This information can be found on the SDS or can be procured from the manufacturer.

Once your product is created or converted to FBA, the review process takes four working days (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays). To know more about the dangerous goods review process, see FBA dangerous goods review process.

Use the Look up an ASIN tool to check the classification status of your FBA ASIN.

Exiting Listings

The Dangerous Goods team reviews each ASIN that is converted to Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) within four working days if identified as a possible dangerous good. A working day is from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

If the dangerous goods information that you have provided during listing setup is complete and correct, we will complete the review and classify your product within four working days.

However, if the data that you have provided is inaccurate, incomplete or otherwise conflicting, and is preventing us from correctly classifying your products, we will request additional information from you.

Depending on the type of product that you are listing, we might request one or both of the following to classify your product correctly:

• A Safety Data Sheet: If you have not provided an SDS, the SDS that you have provided is not valid, or the information in the SDS is contradictory, you will be required to provide a complete and correct SDS, to be obtained from the manufacturer. If your product does not contain any harmful chemicals (e.g. alcohol, acid, sodium), you may upload an exemption sheet in place of an SDS in cases where you are unable to obtain an SDS.
• Battery exemption sheet: If you have not provided complete and accurate battery information, you will be required to upload the exemption sheet for batteries and battery-powered products.

Amazon also performs regular reviews on products in our fulfilment centres that may be regulated as dangerous goods to ensure that deliveries meet regulatory requirements and safety standards for buyers and our employees. During one of these reviews, it may happen that your product is flagged as missing complete dangerous goods information. In this case, we will ask you to submit a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or an exemption sheet (for batteries and battery-powered products, and for products that do not contain harmful chemicals) depending on your product type.

To know more about the review process, see FBA dangerous goods review process.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS, previously known as MSDS) is a detailed information bulletin containing 16 sections prepared by the manufacturer or importer that describes the physical and chemical properties, physical and health hazards, routes of exposure, precautions for safe handling and use, emergency and first-aid procedures, and control measures of a product.

Safety Data Sheets enable Amazon to:

• Determine whether your products are regulated as dangerous goods or not
• Correctly classify your products as either dangerous goods or non-dangerous goods (the classification determines how products are stored and transported)
• Determine the correct handling and disposal measures if a product spills or leaks at a fulfilment centre
• Confirm your products as non-regulated goods

To know more about Safety Data Sheets, watch the following video in Seller University: Introduction to Safety Data Sheets.

We also invite you to go to the UK Health and Safety Executive website.

Eligible Safety Data Sheets must comply with the following requirements:

1. Created or updated within the last five (5) years
2. Include new GB CLP hazard identification information if applicable
3. Match your product listing:
   • he listing title (the product name, as it appears on the detail page) must be the same as the product name shown on the SDS
   • The manufacturer or brand name of your product on the SDS must be the same as the manufacturer or brand name displayed on the detail page
4. Include all 16 standard SDS sections

For more information about Safety Data Sheets eligibility, watch the following video in Seller University: Six Rules for Submitting Safety Data Sheets.

Upload safety data sheets

You must upload eligible Safety Data Sheets using the Upload dangerous goods documents tool.

Follow the guidance below:

1. Enter the ASIN of your product.
2. Select the marketplace that you wish to sell your product in (e.g. Amazon.co.uk).
3. Select the language of the SDS.
4. Click Browse to retrieve the file that you have saved on your computer.
5. Click Upload file.

After you have uploaded your SDS, the Dangerous Goods team will review the document within four working days (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays). If the document is complete and accurate, we will classify your product during that time frame. However, if the document is invalid, you will be requested to provide updated documentation. Use the Look up an ASIN tool provided above to check the classification status of your product.

To avoid classification delays, we strongly recommend that you check your SDS complies with the requirements listed above before providing it to Amazon. Each new document submission takes an additional four working days from the date of the upload.

Exemption sheets

An exemption sheet is a document required by Amazon to gather specific dangerous good information for products exempted from providing an SDS by the regulations or law. An exemption sheet will be accepted for the following two categories of products only:

1. Batteries and products that contain or are sold with batteries
2. Products that do not contain harmful chemicals

Exemption sheet for battery and battery-powered products

Review the product packaging, the product manual or the battery itself to locate specific battery information such as watt-hours and voltage. For more information on lithium batteries, see Requirements for lithium batteries and products that contain lithium batteries.

1. Download the exemption sheet. The template is available in multiple languages: Select the one that is easiest for you.
2. Fill in all cells highlighted in red. Depending on your answers, further cells may turn red. Fill those cells in as well.
3. Save the document on your computer.
   Note: If the document is incomplete or presents conflicting information, you will not be able to save. If that happens, correct the errors and save the file again.
4. Upload the exemption sheet:
   • Enter the ASIN of your product
   • Select the marketplace that you wish to sell your product in (e.g. Amazon.co.uk).
   • Select the language of the exemption sheet.
   • Click Browse to retrieve the file that you have saved on your computer.
   • Click Upload file.

Exemption sheet for products without harmful chemicals

Review the product packaging or the product itself to locate specific information, such as ingredients, pictograms or warning phrases.

1. Download the exemption sheet. The template is available in multiple languages: Select the one that is easiest for you.
2. Fill in all cells highlighted in red. Depending on your answers, further cells may turn red. Fill those cells in as well.
3. Save the document on your computer.
   Note: If the document is incomplete or presents conflicting information, you will not be able to save. If that happens, correct the errors and save the file again.
4. Upload the exemption sheet:
   • Enter the ASIN of your product
   • Select the marketplace that you wish to sell your product in (e.g. Amazon.co.uk).
   • Select the language of the exemption sheet.
   • Click Browse to retrieve the file that you have saved on your computer.
   • Click Upload file.

Northern Ireland

Note that different rules will apply in NI from 1 January 2021 as a result of the Northern Ireland Protocol. In particular:

• You should ensure that products meet applicable EU REACH and CLP requirements.
• You should ensure that ECHA has been notified, as required by EU REACH and CLP.
• Northern Irish businesses that are currently downstream users or distributors may have obligations in relation to chemicals traded from GB to NI.
• Northern Irish businesses may also have obligations to notify GB authorities if placing highly regulated goods in GB.
• “Qualifying Northern Ireland goods” will be able to be sold in GB under unfettered access rights. The UK Government is issuing guidance on how this will work.

BREXIT: UK Government Guidance

The UK Government has released guidance on the sale of chemicals in GB and NI from 1 January 2021, including on REACH and CLP (as well as Biocides, Prior Informed Consent and Pesticides or Plant Protection Products).

We encourage you to review this guidance (linked below), alongside any other specific UK Government Guidance that applies to your product. You should consult your legal counsel if you have questions about how the laws and regulations apply to your products from 1 January 2021.

• https://www.hse.gov.uk/brexit/chemicals-brexit-guidance.htm
• https://www.hse.gov.uk/brexit/reach-guidance.htm
• https://www.hse.gov.uk/brexit/clp.htm
• https://www.hse.gov.uk/brexit/clp-ni.htm

Additional Information

We strongly encourage you to review the following guidance for more information on the sale of chemicals in the UK.

You can visit the UK REACH Helpdesk and review UK Government guidance for more information on REACH and CLP, including the following websites:

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-comply-with-reach-chemical-regulations
• https://www.hse.gov.uk/chemical-classification/legal/clp-regulation.htm

We also encourage you to visit the Business Companion website, which contains guidance on UK product compliance rules:

• https://www.businesscompanion.info/en/get-started