A note on the recent Product Bundling Policy update
On October 14, 2024, we announced updates to the Product Bundling Policy for consumables products in several categories. We introduced these new requirements because consumables products are more likely to be ingested, applied to the skin, or used by vulnerable populations such as children and pets. They also typically have stricter storage and handling guidelines. We’ve introduced stricter policies for bundles that include consumable goods to ensure that all the consumables products included in the bundle are authentic and safe to use and consume.
However, we heard your feedback that the policy lacked clarity, making it difficult to understand how it impacts your business. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and we appreciate you providing feedback to help us improve.
Based on your input, we’ve updated the consumables bundling policy language to be clearer:
- All bundles must be product configurations packaged by the original manufacturer or brand. For example, you can list a bundle that includes Dawn dish spray and dish spray refills which was originally packaged by Dawn. However, you cannot list a bundle of Dawn dish spray and dish spray refills that you have re-packaged. You also cannot create your own bundle combining Dawn products with gloves and sponges from other manufacturers or brands.
- Products may be reconfigured and repackaged as bundles if you have a Letter of Authorization from a brand owner or manufacturer granting permission to repackage. All products in a bundle must belong to the same brand, and the bundle must be branded with the same brand name as the products.
- Gift items listed within the gift basket category may contain products from multiple brands that are physically bundled together for customers in a manner suitable for gifting.
We've also updated the examples on the product bundling policy page to provide clearer resources for understanding this policy. To learn more, go to the Product Bundling Policy.
Effective immediately, all new consumables bundles must comply with the updated policy. For existing bundles, we will begin enforcing the new policy on January 1, 2025. We’ll notify you through email and the Account Health dashboard if you have non-compliant bundles that are scheduled to be suppressed.
A note on the recent Product Bundling Policy update
On October 14, 2024, we announced updates to the Product Bundling Policy for consumables products in several categories. We introduced these new requirements because consumables products are more likely to be ingested, applied to the skin, or used by vulnerable populations such as children and pets. They also typically have stricter storage and handling guidelines. We’ve introduced stricter policies for bundles that include consumable goods to ensure that all the consumables products included in the bundle are authentic and safe to use and consume.
However, we heard your feedback that the policy lacked clarity, making it difficult to understand how it impacts your business. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and we appreciate you providing feedback to help us improve.
Based on your input, we’ve updated the consumables bundling policy language to be clearer:
- All bundles must be product configurations packaged by the original manufacturer or brand. For example, you can list a bundle that includes Dawn dish spray and dish spray refills which was originally packaged by Dawn. However, you cannot list a bundle of Dawn dish spray and dish spray refills that you have re-packaged. You also cannot create your own bundle combining Dawn products with gloves and sponges from other manufacturers or brands.
- Products may be reconfigured and repackaged as bundles if you have a Letter of Authorization from a brand owner or manufacturer granting permission to repackage. All products in a bundle must belong to the same brand, and the bundle must be branded with the same brand name as the products.
- Gift items listed within the gift basket category may contain products from multiple brands that are physically bundled together for customers in a manner suitable for gifting.
We've also updated the examples on the product bundling policy page to provide clearer resources for understanding this policy. To learn more, go to the Product Bundling Policy.
Effective immediately, all new consumables bundles must comply with the updated policy. For existing bundles, we will begin enforcing the new policy on January 1, 2025. We’ll notify you through email and the Account Health dashboard if you have non-compliant bundles that are scheduled to be suppressed.
36 replies
Seller_AU82iMbshWg8a
October 14, 2025, we announced??? Am I traveling through the world??
Seller_mGWoqAZvKQxvf
Hi there! This is great news for snack gift box sellers. However, I believe that this update still needs further clarification. In your note, you say the following: "gift items within gift basket category". To my knowledge there is no browse node code or item-type-keyword that goes "gift basket". There are related sub-categories (browse node code or item-type-keyword) such as "Food Assortments & Variety Gifts", "Snack Food Gifts", "Party-Mix" etc. However, none of these mention "gift basket". So, Amazon needs to make crystal clear what it meant by "gift basket".
For example, see this product: B01N22CM3F
This is clearly a gift basket but its category is "Food Assortments & Variety Gifts". So it does not say "gift basket" as the recent policy goes. So how Amazon sees this product is still not clear.
Seller_mnEkQEXx42qR6
I think there's another exception missing.
Can a bundle contain multiple brands as long as there's approval from all brands in the bundle to do so?
For example, can I sell my own branded sweetener with tea from another brand and list the listing under my brand? Of course, assuming that I have a letter of authorization (LOA) from that brand of tea to do just that.
This seems to me that it should be permitted.
Please advise.
Seller_9zvIqHIFfFmQi
What happens to sellers who have multiple pallets inbound to Amazon when their products take months to be received? In my case, I have about 6,000 units waiting to be processed, and Amazon has not yet received my inventory.
What will happen on January 1, 2025? Will I lose my inventory?
Seller_9zvIqHIFfFmQi
The issue isn't about adapting to the new policy; it's that Amazon hasn't provided enough time for sellers to adjust. The new policy was updated on October 14, and we all know that this is when products typically take longer to be received, as stated in Amazon's seller newsletter. Consequently, sellers were shipping large quantities of inventory for Q4.
Amazon, please extend the time for sellers to adjust to the new bundling policy. There are hundreds of businesses and families that rely entirely on this, including my own.
My family depends 100% on this income, and I have vulnerable family members, including small children, who rely on it as well. Please allow more time for sellers to adapt to the new policy!
Seller_2VLZhVSMPZbyT
Amazon, please allow more time for sellers to adjust to the new policy. Updating a policy on the first day of Q4 and expecting sellers to comply by January 1st lacks common sense, especially when sellers need to ship more inventory in preparation for the busy holiday season. We kindly ask for a reasonable adjustment period. Thank you!
Seller_9zvIqHIFfFmQi
@Jim_Amazon@Michelle_Amazon@Levi_Dylan_Amazon@Emet_Amazon@Micah_Amazon@Michelle_Amazon@Quincy_Amazon@Roberto_Amazon@Roxy_Amazon@SEAmod@Steve_Amazon@Tatiana_Amazon@Troy_Amazon@Topher_Amazon@Veronica_Amazon
Please allow more time for sellers to adjust!!
Seller_9EkhEioO4C8FK
It is your platform and you are able to do whatever you want. However, if I sent 10 pallets of inventory yesterday it won't check in by January first. There isn't a way to change a listing to "gift basket' so I'd need to remove all 10 pallets, then send it back in.
I'm not personally affected by this, but my heart goes out to those who are. The change in policy is not the issue, the lack of communication is. Game studios who make games for children give more notice before making a change.
You're a trillion dollar company, you can't at least send a "hey, this is the direction we want all sellers to follow in 2025"
I'd prefer amazon come out and directly say, going forward in 2025 we want all sellers to be brand owners, or agents of a brand owner, and have an LOA(which is NOT an exclusive distribution agreement because amazon enforcing that would violate anti-trust laws)
I'm adapting accordingly, but it makes me sad for those who can't
Seller_7rNklHYkq1IwY
Please specify exactly what category or categories you are referring to for "gift basket category". "Gift Basket" is not a valid "browse node" or "item-type-keyword".
Also if Amazon knows which listings are currently violating this policy, why wait until Jan 1, 2025 to "enforce" the policy". Go ahead and identify the offending listings NOW and inform those sellers NOW, so that business owners have an opportunity to respond and react to this new policy.
Sometimes I wonder if Amazon just invents new policies to generate and maintain a constant atmosphere of Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt for all of us 3rd Party Sellers. To deal with supply chain and Amazon inbound issues we have to plan many, many months in advance. Announcing a new policy in October that takes effect in January which will affect millions of products already on their way to Amazon AWD or Fulfillment Centers is inconsiderate and offensive. Amazon, you can do better.
Seller_v9fk04rymfbM3
If we have a Letter of Authorization from a brand that owns many other brands and states they own those brands in the letter of authorization, would we then be able to reconfigure and repackage products from two or more of those sub-brands together in a bundle? While they would technically be from two separate brands, they are both owned by the same main brand, so wouldn't that technically be considered a bundle of one brand's products?
