🚨 Amazon Is Confusing Shipping Packaging with Product Packaging (Case ID: 20376222391)
I would appreciate if an experienced Amazon representative could review **Case ID: 20376222391**, because the responses I have received from Seller Support have been extremely disappointing.
Unfortunately, it feels like the case has been handled either by automated responses or by representatives who did not take the time to understand the issue or review the attached evidence. As sellers, many of us spend countless hours studying Amazon policies, FDA regulations, and compliance requirements. At this point, it honestly feels like many sellers are more familiar with these requirements than the support agents reviewing our cases.
The core issue is very straightforward.
Amazon is treating my **outer shipping/protective package** as if it were the **actual product packaging** and is requesting an expiration date on that outer package. This is simply not how FDA packaging requirements work, nor is it consistent with Amazon's own policies.
The expiration date is already clearly printed on the **actual product package** that directly contains the powder. This is the package that comes into contact with the product and is the primary consumer package. The outer package exists only for branding, protection, and shipping purposes. It does not contain the product itself.
It appears that Amazon repeatedly overlooks the distinction between **primary product packaging** and **secondary/shipping packaging**, treating every outer package as though it were the package that directly contains the product. This misunderstanding has resulted in an incorrect compliance decision.
If Amazon's interpretation were correct, then by the same logic every shipping box used to transport food products—including Amazon's own shipping boxes—would also require expiration dates. That is clearly not how packaging regulations are applied.
I have already provided photographs demonstrating that the manufacturing and expiration dates are properly displayed on the actual product package, yet these images do not appear to have been reviewed carefully.
I am asking that this case be reviewed by a knowledgeable senior representative who understands FDA labeling requirements and Amazon's compliance policies. I would also appreciate hearing from other sellers who have experienced Amazon confusing outer shipping packaging with primary product packaging.
Thank you for taking the time to review this issue.
@Christine_Amazon @Abbie_Amazon @Angie_Amazon @Roberto_Amazon @Cooper_Amazon @Kai_Amazon@Manny_Amazon @Arish_Amazon @Glenn_Amazon @Josh_Amazon @Casey_Amazon
🚨 Amazon Is Confusing Shipping Packaging with Product Packaging (Case ID: 20376222391)
I would appreciate if an experienced Amazon representative could review **Case ID: 20376222391**, because the responses I have received from Seller Support have been extremely disappointing.
Unfortunately, it feels like the case has been handled either by automated responses or by representatives who did not take the time to understand the issue or review the attached evidence. As sellers, many of us spend countless hours studying Amazon policies, FDA regulations, and compliance requirements. At this point, it honestly feels like many sellers are more familiar with these requirements than the support agents reviewing our cases.
The core issue is very straightforward.
Amazon is treating my **outer shipping/protective package** as if it were the **actual product packaging** and is requesting an expiration date on that outer package. This is simply not how FDA packaging requirements work, nor is it consistent with Amazon's own policies.
The expiration date is already clearly printed on the **actual product package** that directly contains the powder. This is the package that comes into contact with the product and is the primary consumer package. The outer package exists only for branding, protection, and shipping purposes. It does not contain the product itself.
It appears that Amazon repeatedly overlooks the distinction between **primary product packaging** and **secondary/shipping packaging**, treating every outer package as though it were the package that directly contains the product. This misunderstanding has resulted in an incorrect compliance decision.
If Amazon's interpretation were correct, then by the same logic every shipping box used to transport food products—including Amazon's own shipping boxes—would also require expiration dates. That is clearly not how packaging regulations are applied.
I have already provided photographs demonstrating that the manufacturing and expiration dates are properly displayed on the actual product package, yet these images do not appear to have been reviewed carefully.
I am asking that this case be reviewed by a knowledgeable senior representative who understands FDA labeling requirements and Amazon's compliance policies. I would also appreciate hearing from other sellers who have experienced Amazon confusing outer shipping packaging with primary product packaging.
Thank you for taking the time to review this issue.
@Christine_Amazon @Abbie_Amazon @Angie_Amazon @Roberto_Amazon @Cooper_Amazon @Kai_Amazon@Manny_Amazon @Arish_Amazon @Glenn_Amazon @Josh_Amazon @Casey_Amazon
4 replies
Seller_rI7BZIczK8iAC
Do you mean the box you send to Amazon? The box with the shipping label on it?
If yes, you have to put an Expiry Date in a large font under the FBA shipping label in case it contains units with the same FNSKU. That is not an FDA requirement but an Amazon requirement.
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
Great. So is that a place where Amazon can see it when they pull it from the bin at FBA? They need to be able to see the date so that they can know when it expires.
Seller_f4a7xAPCCSMqD
Per the support article on Expiration dates on FBA products:
"Expiration-dated products must be fully enclosed and sealed in packaging that is suitable for shipping. Expiration-dated products that require additional preparation, such as poly-bagging or bubble wrap, must have labels with expiration dates applied to the outside of the product prep or packaging. This is to ensure that the expiration date is accessible to Amazon associates during the check-in process."
KJ_Amazon
Hello @Seller_7tkU1O73zthhI. Thank you for checking in with the seller forums. I understand that you have questions about Amazon's expiration date package guidelines.
I reviewed Case 20376222391 and see that you were provided the following information:
"For expiration-dated products, the expiration date must be clearly visible on the exterior packaging that fulfillment center associates inspect during the receiving process."
@Seller_f4a7xAPCCSMqD shared the following help page which also covers this topic: Expiration dates on FBA products
"All case packs, multipacks, and display boxes must have the expiration date on the box or bundle, as well as on each individual item inside the box or bundle."
How to prep products with expiration dates also includes: "Products that can expire must have the expiration date printed on the master carton (36-pt font or larger) and on the individual retail unit."
I hope this explains Amazon's FC policies. Please check back if you have any other questions.
