Since 1 July 2026, Amazon no longer preps or labels FBA stock for its UK and European stores. Every unit you send in now has to arrive with a scannable barcode, compliant packaging and boxes that sit inside Amazon’s size and weight limits. You can do that work yourself, or hand it to a UK FBA prep centre.
For years, Amazon’s own prep service was the safety net. Forgot a label? Bag missing a warning? Amazon would fix it at check-in and add a per-unit fee to your bill. That net has gone. Amazon ended the service in the US for shipments created from 1 January 2026, and its European stores, including amazon.co.uk, followed on 1 July 2026.
This guide covers what changed, exactly what “FBA-ready” means for UK sellers, how to decide between doing prep yourself and outsourcing it, and the mistakes that most often get stock refused or delayed.
What changed for UK sellers in July 2026
Amazon’s FBA Prep Service and FBA Label Service used to cover FNSKU labelling, polybagging, bubble wrapping, taping and bundle preparation for a fee per unit. From 1 July 2026 those services are no longer available for FBA shipments into Amazon’s European fulfilment network, which includes the UK.
In practice that means three things:
- Prep is now 100% your responsibility, or the responsibility of whoever prepares your stock for you.
- Mistakes cost more. Amazon’s packaging guidance warns that non-compliant units can trigger fees for unplanned services, and repeated problems can lead to restricted shipping privileges.
- Lead times matter more. Stock that needs relabelling or rebagging has to be fixed before it ships, so prep time needs to be built into your replenishment plan.
If you were already prepping everything in-house, little changes. If you relied on Amazon to tidy up supplier stock, you need a new process now.
What “FBA-ready” means: the requirements that matter
Amazon publishes detailed prep rules in Seller Central, and category-specific rules change, so always check the current version for your products. These are the requirements that catch out the most UK sellers.
1. A unique, scannable barcode on every unit
Every unit needs a barcode Amazon can scan and link to your listing. Most sellers use an Amazon FNSKU label, which ties each unit to your seller account so it is never mixed with another seller’s stock of the same product. Each variant needs its own FNSKU: a medium blue t-shirt and a large blue t-shirt are two different FNSKUs, and so are new and used versions of the same item.
- Cover or remove any other scannable barcode on the outside of the unit, so the FNSKU is the only one a scanner can read.
- Put the label on a flat surface, never across a seam, curve or corner.
- Print with a thermal printer where possible. Inkjet labels can smudge in transit and fail to scan.
2. Packaging that survives the journey
Amazon expects units to survive drops, sorting and storage without damage. If a product cannot pass Amazon’s drop test as it is, it needs extra protection.
- Polybags must be transparent enough to scan through, sealed, and carry a suffocation warning if the opening is 5 inches (about 12.7 cm) or wider. The warning can be printed on the bag or applied as a label.
- Fragile items such as glass need bubble wrap or a box so they cannot break or puncture other stock.
- Liquids need sealed, leak-proof packaging, often double-bagged.
- Footwear and textiles should have no material exposed, so a shoe box or a polybag with a warning.
3. Sets and bundles that cannot be split
If you sell items as a multipack or bundle, they must be secured together, for example in a sealed polybag or shrink wrap, and marked “Sold as set” or “This is a set. Do not separate”. Otherwise Amazon may treat each item as a separate unit and your stock counts go wrong.
4. Expiry-dated products
Food, supplements, cosmetics and pet food need the expiry date shown clearly on each unit and on the outer box. Amazon also applies minimum remaining shelf life rules when stock is checked in, so check the current requirement for your category before you book a shipment. Stock that arrives too close to its date can be refused or disposed of.
5. Shipping boxes inside Amazon’s limits
Amazon’s UK shipping requirements set firm limits on the boxes you send in:
| Box type | Maximum size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Standard-size items | 63.5 cm on any side | 0.15 kg to 23 kg |
| A single oversized item | Up to 73.7 cm long | Up to 30 kg |
| Heavy and Bulky items (over 30 kg) | Up to 150 cm long, 3 m girth | Must be enrolled in the FBA Heavy and Bulky programme |
Any box weighing 15 kg or more needs “Team Lift” or “Heavy Package” labels on the top and all four sides. Each box also needs its own FBA box ID label, placed away from seams and at least 3 cm from an edge, and you should never photocopy or reuse a box label.
Should you prep yourself or use a prep centre?
Both can work. The right answer depends on how many units you send in, how many different products you sell, and what your time is worth.
| Prep it yourself | Use a UK FBA prep centre | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Low volumes, a handful of products, sellers with spare space | Growing volumes, many variants, seasonal peaks |
| Upfront cost | Thermal printer, labels, polybags, boxes, packing space | Usually none; you pay per unit or per task |
| Ongoing cost | Your time, or staff wages | A per-unit fee for each prep task |
| Risk | You carry the cost of every relabel and rejection | Trained staff who prep FBA stock every day |
| Flexibility | Limited by your space and hours | Stock can be held back for FBM, TikTok Shop or your own website orders |
A useful test: work out how many hours a month you spend labelling, bagging and packing Amazon shipments, multiply by what your time is worth, and compare it with a per-unit quote. Labour costs have risen too. The UK National Living Wage went up to £12.71 an hour on 1 April 2026, which is worth factoring in if you pay staff to prep.
How to choose a UK FBA prep centre
Ask these questions before you send any stock:
- Which marketplaces do you prep for? Many sellers now need Amazon FBA and TikTok Shop (Fulfilled by TikTok) prep from the same stock.
- Which tasks are included? FNSKU labelling, polybagging with warnings, bubble wrap, bundling and box labelling should all be standard.
- How do you record stock and expiry dates? Look for a proper warehouse management system, not a spreadsheet.
- What happens when something is wrong with my stock? A good prep centre tells you before it ships, not after Amazon refuses it.
- Can you fulfil orders from the same stock? If Amazon restricts your inbound capacity, it helps to ship FBM, Seller Fulfilled Prime or website orders from the same warehouse.
- How is pricing structured? Ask for an itemised, per-task price list so you can compare like for like.
Location matters too. Amazon runs several fulfilment centres in the North West and Yorkshire, so a prep centre in the north of England can keep transit to Amazon short for northern sellers and importers. Based near Manchester? See our FBA prep centre for Manchester and the North West.
How Pro Packers UK handles FBA prep
We prep Amazon FBA stock at our 35,000 sq ft warehouse in Colne, Lancashire. When your stock arrives, it is checked in and recorded in our warehouse management system, including expiry dates. From there we handle FNSKU labelling, barcoding, polybagging, bundling and compliance checks, then prepare your boxes for Amazon.
If something does not meet Amazon’s requirements, we tell you before anything is sent on and agree how to fix it. We also prep stock for TikTok Shop’s Fulfilled by TikTok programme and can pick, pack and dispatch FBM and Seller Fulfilled Prime orders from the same stock with Evri, DPD, FedEx and DX. See our Amazon FBA and marketplace prep service for the details.
Common FBA prep mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the manufacturer barcode visible next to the FNSKU, so the wrong code gets scanned.
- Using one FNSKU for several sizes or colours.
- Polybags with an opening of 5 inches or more but no suffocation warning.
- Labels wrapped around a curve or stuck across a seam.
- Boxes over 23 kg, or over 63.5 cm on a side, without a single oversized item inside.
- Multipacks with no “Sold as set” label.
- Expiry dates on the units but not on the outer box.
Frequently asked questions
Does Amazon still offer FBA prep in the UK?
No. Amazon stopped offering its prep and item labelling services for FBA shipments in its European stores, including the UK, from 1 July 2026. Sellers must now send stock that is already labelled and packaged to Amazon’s requirements, either by doing it themselves or by using a third-party prep centre.
What happens if I send stock to Amazon that is not prepped correctly?
Units that do not meet Amazon’s requirements can be refused, delayed or repackaged by Amazon for an unplanned service fee. Repeated problems can also lead to restricted shipping privileges, so it is worth getting prep right before stock leaves your supplier or warehouse.
Do I need an FNSKU label, or can I use the manufacturer barcode?
It depends on how your listing is set up. Using an Amazon FNSKU on every unit keeps your stock separate from other sellers’ units of the same product and makes problems easier to trace, which is why most prep centres label everything with FNSKUs. Each size, colour and condition needs its own FNSKU.
How much does FBA prep cost in the UK?
Prep centres usually charge per unit or per task. Labelling is at the lower end, while polybagging, bubble wrapping and bundling add to the price. Your quote will depend on volumes and products. Our UK fulfilment cost guide explains how 3PL pricing works.
Can a prep centre also handle my TikTok Shop and website orders?
Many can. At Pro Packers UK we prep stock for Amazon FBA and TikTok Shop, and fulfil FBM, Seller Fulfilled Prime and website orders from the same warehouse, so your stock does not need to be split across providers.
Next steps
If you are rethinking your Amazon prep after the July 2026 change, request a quote with your monthly unit volumes and product types, or read more about our FBA prep service and ecommerce fulfilment. You may also find these useful: how much ecommerce fulfilment costs in the UK and why your business needs a 3PL partner.
