FBA product barcode requirements

Fulfilment by Amazon uses barcodes to identify and track inventory throughout the fulfilment process. Each item you send to an Amazon Fulfilment Centre requires a barcode.

There are three kinds of barcodes for identifying products:

Manufacturer barcodes (eligible barcodes include GCID, UPC, EAN, JAN, or 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

You can enable virtual tracking with the manufacturer barcode in your Fulfilment by Amazon settings. When more than one seller has inventory with the same manufacturer barcode, Amazon may fulfil orders with the inventory that is closest to the customer, for faster delivery.

If your product is not eligible for virtual tracking with the manufacturer barcode, an Amazon barcode will be required. To learn more about virtual tracking and see product eligibility requirements, go to Using FBA virtual tracking.

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 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
Products for children or infants

You can print Amazon barcodes and apply them to your products yourself, or Amazon can print and apply them for a per-item fee. For more information, see 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 items will require labelling. For more information, go to Send/replenish inventory: Label products.

Transparency authenticity codes

Transparency codes are item-level authentication stickers that help protect brand owners and customers from counterfeiting. 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 Transparency.

FBA product barcode requirements

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