FLEX. Fulfillment
We provide logistics services to online retailers in Europe: Amazon FBA prep, processing FBA removal orders, forwarding to Fulfillment Centers - both FBA and Vendor shipments.
This guide covers Amazon FBA prep requirements for EU fulfilment centres — labelling, packaging, poly-bagging, pallet specifications, hazmat rules, bundling and kitting. It is written for Amazon sellers who are already using or evaluating a EU prep centre and want a practical reference for what Amazon requires before inbound shipments are accepted. Updated for 2026 requirements.
Labelling Basics
FNSKU (Fulfilment Network Stock Keeping Unit) is Amazon's own barcode that ties a specific unit to a specific seller's account. It is required when: you have opted into FNSKU labelling rather than commingled inventory, the product's manufacturer barcode is not unique enough (shared across sellers), or Amazon's category requirements mandate it. The default recommendation for most sellers is to use FNSKU — it prevents your units from being mixed with other sellers' stock of the same ASIN, which eliminates the risk of receiving customer complaints for quality issues caused by another seller's inventory.
Yes — Amazon allows EAN or UPC barcodes for products enrolled in commingled inventory. In commingled mode, your units are mixed in the FC with other sellers' units of the same ASIN. The risk: if another seller sends defective or counterfeit stock of the same ASIN, Amazon may fulfil a customer order with their unit from your pool. Counterfeit or quality complaints attributed to commingled inventory are difficult to dispute. For new products, own-brand products, or any product where quality control matters, FNSKU labelling and non-commingled inventory is the safer and strongly recommended option.
Label minimum size: 1 inch × 2 inch (2.54 × 5.08 cm). Barcode type: Code 128. Print quality: minimum 300 DPI, black barcode on white background — no colour backgrounds or watermarks behind the barcode. Placement: on a flat, scannable surface of each unit; not across edges, folds, or vents; not on the bottom. The FNSKU label must cover any existing manufacturer barcode completely — if both are scannable simultaneously, the unit will be rejected. Labels can be printed on standard label stock using any 300 DPI or better printer. Amazon FBA prep in France at FLEX. prints and applies FNSKU labels as part of the standard prep service.
Sticker removal is the process of removing existing labels — price stickers, retailer barcodes, or manufacturer labels — before applying the FNSKU label. It is needed when products have been sourced from retail (clearance, wholesale from retailers) or when manufacturers apply their own barcode stickers that cannot remain on the unit alongside FNSKU. FLEX. performs sticker removal as part of its prep service. For products with difficult adhesive residue, a cleaning step after removal may be required to ensure the FNSKU label adheres cleanly. Sticker removal and relabelling service at FBA prep centre in Germany at FLEX. covers this as a standard prep option.
Box and Packaging Requirements
Maximum box weight: 23 kilograms (50 lbs). Maximum box dimensions: 63.5 × 63.5 × 63.5 cm on any side — exception: a box containing a single oversized unit can exceed this. Boxes must be new or like-new corrugated cardboard — no crushed corners, excessive wear, or prior FC labelling that has not been removed. All original markings from the manufacturer or previous shipments must be covered or removed. Boxes with openings or perforations should be taped closed on all edges. When in doubt about a box's suitability, use a new box — the cost of reboxing at the prep centre is significantly lower than Amazon's non-compliance fees for rejected inbound.
The box content label is a barcode generated from your Seller Central inbound shipment plan that identifies the exact SKU contents and quantity of each box. It is applied to one of the short sides of each box — not the top or bottom. All boxes in an inbound shipment must have a box content label; Amazon uses these labels to receive and reconcile your shipment at the FC without opening every box. Box content labels are printed from Seller Central as part of the shipment plan workflow. FLEX. applies box content labels to every box as part of the standard outbound prep before the shipment departs for the FC.
Poly-Bagging
Poly-bagging is required for: products sold as a set where individual units could separate (multi-unit sets, accessories); loose products with small parts or contents that could spill or scatter; items susceptible to moisture or dust damage in transit; products that Amazon's category requirements specify must be bagged (check category-specific prep guidance in Seller Central); and products where the retail packaging is not sturdy enough to survive FC handling. Poly-bagging is also strongly recommended for clothing items to prevent damage and dust accumulation. Kitting and assembly in Germany and Poland at FLEX. covers poly-bagging as part of the standard prep service.
All poly bags and plastic bags with an opening of 13 cm (5 inches) or larger must include a suffocation warning. The warning must be printed on the bag or applied as a label, and must be visible from the outside of the bag. Accepted formats: printed text directly on the bag material, an adhesive label, or a warning integrated into the bag design. The standard EU warning text is: 'Warning: to avoid danger of suffocation, keep this bag away from babies and children' (in the relevant market language). Amazon will reject units with poly bags that lack the suffocation warning on bags of this size. FLEX. supplies compliant poly bags with printed warnings as standard. Amazon FBA prep in Germany at FLEX. applies suffocation-compliant poly bags.
Bundling and Kitting
A bundle is two or more complementary products sold together as a single ASIN — for example, a phone case and screen protector sold as a set. The bundle must be contained in a single, inseparable unit: a poly bag, shrink wrap, or retail box that prevents individual components from being separated. The bundle as a whole must carry a single FNSKU for the bundle ASIN — individual component FNSKUs must either be absent or covered. The outer packaging must clearly state what the bundle contains and the total quantity. Amazon will not accept bundles where components are loose or separable, or where individual component barcodes are still scannable alongside the bundle FNSKU.
A bundle contains multiple different complementary products (different SKUs combined). A multi-pack contains multiple units of the same product (same SKU, multiple quantities). Both require a single FNSKU for the entire set — the FNSKU of the bundle or multi-pack ASIN, not the individual component ASINs. Multi-packs must have the quantity clearly stated on the outer packaging: '2-Pack', '3-Pack', etc. Multi-packs of the same product must be indistinguishable from each other — all units in a multi-pack of the same ASIN must be identical. Amazon FBA prep in France at FLEX. handles multi-pack creation and bundling.
Yes — kitting is a core FLEX. service. FLEX. receives individual component SKUs, assembles them per your bundle specification (confirmed in advance via a kitting instruction sheet), poly-bags or boxes the assembled bundle, applies the FNSKU for the bundle ASIN, and includes any required inserts or instructions. The assembled unit is then labelled, quality-checked, and forwarded to the FBA FC as a standard inbound shipment. Kitting is priced per bundle based on the number of components and the complexity of assembly. Kitting and assembly in Germany and Poland at FLEX. covers the full kitting service with pricing.
Pallet Requirements
EU standard pallet: 80 × 120 cm (EUR/EPAL pallet). This is different from the US standard (40 × 48 inches / approximately 101 × 121 cm) — using US pallets for EU FBA inbound is one of the most common and costly mistakes for non-EU sellers. Maximum pallet height: 1.8 metres for single-stacked pallets; 2.8 metres for double-stacked where the FC allows. Maximum pallet weight: typically 600 to 800 kg per pallet depending on the FC. Pallets must be stretch-wrapped with all four sides and the top covered. FLEX. builds pallets to EU specification as standard for all outbound FBA forwarding.
Four pallet labels per pallet — one on each of the four sides, applied on the outside of the stretch wrap so they are scannable without removing the wrap. Labels are printed from Seller Central as part of the inbound shipment plan. They must be fully visible, not folded, and not obstructed by strapping or the pallet itself. If a pallet label is damaged in transit, Amazon may reject the pallet at the FC gate — FLEX. applies labels after stretch-wrapping and inspects all four sides before dispatch to ensure full visibility.
Case-packed means each box in the shipment contains identical units of a single SKU, with the same quantity per box throughout. Individual means boxes may contain single units or mixed SKUs. Amazon uses different receiving workflows for the two types, and inbound fees can differ. Case-packed is more efficient for high-volume single-SKU shipments — it is faster for Amazon to receive, which can reduce the time from arrival to available inventory. Individual is required when boxes contain mixed SKUs or varying quantities. Your Seller Central shipment plan specifies which type each shipment uses; FLEX. packs to whichever configuration your plan requires.
Hazmat
Products containing batteries, flammable materials, pressurised gases, or chemicals must pass Amazon's hazmat review before they can be stored at EU FBA. You submit a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and an Amazon exemption sheet via Seller Central. Amazon reviews and classifies the product — typically within 3 to 7 business days. Until the review is complete, the product cannot be sent to FBA. If classified as hazmat, the product can still be FBA-eligible but is restricted to Amazon FCs with hazmat storage capability, and storage and fulfilment fees are higher. Amazon FBA prep in Germany at FLEX. can advise on hazmat documentation requirements before you submit to Amazon.
Products commonly requiring hazmat review: lithium batteries (standalone cells, power banks, and devices with integrated batteries including phones, laptops, earbuds, and smart devices); aerosols (hairspray, deodorant, spray paint, compressed air cleaners); nail varnish and nail varnish remover; hand sanitiser and alcohol-based cleaning products; perfume and cologne; paint and varnish; products with corrosive substances; e-cigarettes and vaping devices; and some nutritional supplements in liquid form. If your product contains any of these, initiate the hazmat review in Seller Central before your shipment departs the prep centre — a shipment arriving at an FC with unreviewed hazmat is rejected.
Common Mistakes and Non-Compliance Fees
The five most frequent rejection causes: (1) wrong pallet dimensions — US 40 × 48 inch pallets instead of EU 80 × 120 cm; (2) FNSKU label applied but not fully covering the manufacturer barcode — both barcodes scan simultaneously and cause a conflict; (3) poly bag missing suffocation warning on bags 13 cm or larger; (4) bundle has individual component barcodes still scannable alongside the bundle FNSKU; (5) box content label absent or on the wrong face of the box. All five are avoidable with pre-shipment prep review — FLEX. checks against this list on every outbound shipment.
When Amazon receives units that require prep not requested in your inbound shipment plan — for example, poly-bagging not specified but found necessary by the FC — Amazon performs the prep and charges an unplanned service fee. Fees vary but typically run EUR 0.50 to EUR 2.00 per unit depending on the prep type — significantly higher than having the same prep done at a third-party centre like FLEX. before inbound. Consistent unplanned prep charges also signal to Amazon that your inbound quality is poor, which can affect your account standing. FBA prep centre in Germany at FLEX. eliminates unplanned prep charges by completing all required prep before shipment.
2026 Updates and Getting Help
Amazon periodically updates EU FBA inbound requirements. Key changes relevant in 2025 and 2026: stricter scanning verification for box content labels (Amazon now flags missing or damaged labels more aggressively at FC inbound); updated hazmat documentation requirements with shorter SDS review timelines for some categories; increased enforcement of pallet height and stretch-wrap requirements at German FCs; and changes to the Inbound Placement Programme that affect how multi-FC splits are handled in shipment plans. Always check the current FBA prep requirements in Seller Central's Help section before creating a new inbound shipment plan for a product type you have not shipped before.
Yes — send FLEX. your product specifications, Amazon ASIN details, and any category information. FLEX. will advise on the required prep type (poly-bag, bubble wrap, specific label placement, pallet configuration), any hazmat flags to check before submitting to Amazon, bundle or kit considerations, and any category-specific requirements that apply. For complex products or new product categories, FLEX. recommends a small pilot batch — 50 to 100 units — through the prep workflow before committing to a full container, to validate the prep specification and catch any issues before they apply at scale. FBA prep requirements consultation at FLEX. Germany is available for new product enquiries.
Related Services
FBA prep services across the FLEX. network:
- Amazon FBA prep in Germany — FNSKU labelling, poly-bagging, pallet builds and sticker removal
- Amazon FBA prep in France — same prep services at FLEX.'s French location
- Kitting and assembly in Germany and Poland — bundle assembly, multi-pack creation and product kitting
- FBA prep centre in Germany — full prep service overview and pricing
Located in the center of Europe, FLEX. Fulfillment provides Amazon FBA prep to EU specification — FNSKU labelling, poly-bagging, pallet builds, kitting and hazmat preparation — from Germany, Poland and France.
Get in touch for a free prep consultation and quote tailored to your product type and inbound volume.