Amazon FBA

Amazon FBA Inspection in China: The Checklist to Prevent Inbound Problems

Published October 2026 · By SSTI Inspection Team

An Amazon FBA shipment can be rejected or fined for reasons that have nothing to do with the product itself: a barcode that does not scan, a carton over the weight limit, a poly bag without a warning. These are packaging and labelling errors made at the factory, and once the goods reach a fulfilment centre they are expensive to fix. This guide covers what an inspector should check in China before FBA goods ship.

Why Getting It Right at the Factory Matters More Now

Amazon's requirements are the reference for everything below, and they change. Check the current packaging, prep and shipping requirements in Seller Central for your marketplace before you write the checklist. Two recent changes in the US raised the stakes. Amazon stopped prepping and labelling inventory for US FBA shipments created on or after January 1, 2026, so a missing label or bag can no longer be fixed by Amazon for a fee. And it ended commingling on March 31, 2026, so resellers now need an FNSKU label on every unit. Amazon also charges an inbound defect fee when shipments arrive with problems.

In practice, the factory has become the last place where most FBA errors can be fixed cheaply. A factory that makes good products may still know little about Amazon's rules. The inspection is where those rules are checked.

Unit-Level Checks

• FNSKU labels. Every unit that needs an FNSKU carries one, with the right FNSKU for the right SKU and variant. The inspector scans labels with a barcode scanner, not by eye, and compares the result with the buyer's SKU list. Size, white space, print quality and placement are checked against Amazon's label specification.
• Other barcodes covered. Any other scannable barcode on the unit, such as the factory's own or a manufacturer UPC when the FNSKU is used, is covered so the scanner reads only one code. Amazon allows exceptions such as Transparency codes, so follow the current rules for your listing.
• Poly bags. Bags are transparent, sealed and fit the product. Amazon's rules include a minimum film thickness, commonly stated as 1.5 mil, and a suffocation warning on bags with an opening of 5 inches or more. The inspector can measure film thickness with a gauge and check the warning text and legibility.
• Sets and multi-packs. Units sold as a set are bagged or bundled so they cannot separate, and carry the "sold as set" type labelling Amazon requires.
• Fragile and liquid items. Protective packaging and sealing match the prep category the product falls into.

Label Printing and Placement

Most unscannable labels are not wrong labels. They are correct labels printed or applied badly, often by a factory using whatever printer and paper it has. Amazon's label specification is the reference; check the current version in Seller Central. The points an inspector can verify on site are:

• Printing method. Thermal or laser printing, not inkjet, which can smudge and fade in a humid container. Print resolution of at least 300 DPI.
• Size and scaling. Labels within Amazon's size range, printed at 100% scale. "Fit to page" printing can shrink a barcode until it no longer scans.
• White space. Clear margins around the barcode, the "quiet zone", as the specification requires. Labels trimmed too close or overlapping other print fail even when the code itself is sharp.
• Surface. Black on white, on a non-reflective label. A glossy laminate over the barcode can stop a scanner reading it.
• Placement. Flat on a smooth surface, not across a seam, corner, curve or fold, and not under shrink wrap that wrinkles over it.
• Durability. Labels that stay attached and legible after handling. The inspector can rub and flex a sample label to check that the print does not wear off.
• Covered barcodes. Labels used to cover other barcodes are opaque, so the code underneath cannot be read through them.

Every sampled unit should be scanned, not just looked at. A scan confirms both that the code reads and that it reads as the right FNSKU.

Carton Checks

• Size and weight. In the US, Amazon's standard limits are 25 inches on any side and 50 lb per box, unless the box holds a single oversize item. Heavier boxes need the heavy-package or team-lift labelling Amazon specifies. The inspector weighs and measures cartons rather than reading the factory's packing list.
• Box content labels. Each carton carries its FBA box label, in a place where it will not be cut when the box is opened or hidden on a seam or corner.
• Sealing and strength. Cartons are in good condition, strong enough for the weight, and sealed with tape as Amazon requires. Straps and bands are generally not accepted.
• Carton content. Quantity, SKU mix and labelling match the shipment plan, carton by carton.

A carton drop test on sealed export cartons shows whether the packaging will survive handling. The method is covered in our guide to on-site inspection tests.

Put Amazon's Rules Into the Checklist

The inspector checks what the checklist asks for. For FBA goods, the inspection checklist should include:

• The SKU list with the FNSKU for each SKU and variant
• The current Amazon label specification and placement rules
• Poly bag specification, warning text and minimum thickness
• Carton size and weight limits for your marketplace
• The shipment plan with quantities per carton
• Any prep category rules that apply to your product

Treat FBA labelling faults as major defects in the defect classification, because they can stop the whole shipment. Barcode scans, carton weights and measurements should appear in the pre-shipment inspection report with photos, so you can see the evidence before you approve shipment.

For FBA orders, SSTI checks labels, bags and cartons as part of a standard pre-shipment inspection, at one flat day rate anywhere in mainland China, with an English report the same day.

Back to Insights