Why Packaging Compliance Saves You ₹8,000+ Per Shipment
Amazon's and Flipkart's fulfilment centres process thousands of units per hour using automated conveyor systems and barcode scanners. Packaging that doesn't meet their specifications gets rejected, rerouted, relabelled at your cost, or returned entirely.
A single rejected FBA shipment of 200 units costs approximately: ₹3,000–5,000 in removal fees + ₹2,000–3,000 in re-prep work + 2–3 weeks of delay during which your listing goes out of stock and your ranking drops. Prevention costs nothing.
Amazon FBA — Complete Packaging Requirements
1. Unit-Level Packaging
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All units must be in ready-to-ship condition — a buyer should be able to receive your product directly from the Amazon box without additional packaging from you
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Products that are not in manufacturer packaging must be bagged or boxed — loose items (sets, multipacks, spare parts) must be in a sealed poly bag or box that prevents components from separating
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Poly bags must be at least 1.5 mil (0.038mm) thick — thinner bags tear in the sorting conveyor and get units flagged as damaged
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Poly bags with opening >12.7cm must have a suffocation warning — "Warning: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep this bag away from babies and children" — printed in English and Hindi, minimum 10pt font
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No open mesh bags, open-top bags, or string bags — items must be completely enclosed
2. Box and Carton Standards
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Maximum unit dimensions: 63.5cm × 45.7cm × 45.7cm for standard-size items. Items larger than this are classified as oversized and incur higher FBA fees.
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Maximum unit weight: 22.7kg for standard items. Above this = special handling fees.
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Shipping carton maximum: 63.5cm on the longest side, maximum 22.7kg. Heavier cartons require a "Team Lift" label.
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Box integrity: All cartons must be new corrugated cardboard, minimum 3-ply. Reused boxes with old labels or barcodes showing will be rejected.
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No open sides, no loose flaps. All seams taped with H-taping method (tape across all seams in an H pattern top and bottom).
3. Barcode Requirements
This Is Where Most Sellers Get Rejected
Every unit in an FBA shipment must have exactly one scannable barcode that matches its ASIN. Multiple barcodes on a single unit confuse the scanner and trigger manual inspection — which means delays and potential rejection of your entire shipment.
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If your product has a manufacturer barcode (EAN, UPC, ISBN): You can use this if it's enrolled in Amazon's barcode exemption program. Otherwise, cover it with an Amazon FNSKU label.
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FNSKU label specifications: Minimum size 2.5cm × 1.5cm. White background. Print resolution minimum 300 DPI. Must scan from 15cm distance in good lighting.
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Label placement: On the flattest, most accessible surface of the product or its packaging. Not on the bottom, not on a curved surface, not on a seam or fold.
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Label must not be obscured by tape, staples, another label, or overwrap. If the scanner can't read it, the unit fails.
4. Product-Specific Requirements
| Product Type | Additional Requirement |
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| Fragile items (glass, ceramics) | Must be individually bubble-wrapped, must pass a 1.2m drop test in packaging. Label with "Fragile — This Way Up." |
| Sharp items (knives, scissors) | All sharp edges must be protected in rigid packaging or blade guards. Failure = immediate rejection + safety flag on account. |
| Liquids (oils, cleaners, personal care) | Must be in leak-proof sealed containers, double-bagged in poly bags, labelled "Liquid" on carton exterior. |
| Sets and multipacks | All components must be in a single package before arriving at FBA. Amazon will not assemble sets at the fulfilment centre. |
| Hazardous materials (batteries, flammables) | Require a separate HAZMAT approval before shipping. Cannot be included in standard FBA shipments. |
Flipkart Fulfilment (FF) — Key Differences from Amazon FBA
| Factor | Amazon FBA | Flipkart Fulfilment |
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| Barcode standard | FNSKU (Amazon-specific) | FSN (Flipkart Serial Number) + MRP barcode |
| MRP label required? | Not required | Yes — MRP must be printed/labelled on every unit |
| Manufacturer date / expiry | Required for food, cosmetics, health products | Required on ALL packaged products, not just consumables |
| Carton markings | FBA shipment label + FNSKU | Flipkart PO number + item count + weight on every carton |
| Rejection process | Units held at FC, seller notified within 48h | Carton rejected at dock if any label missing — not held |
Flipkart-specific requirements that trip up Amazon sellers:
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MRP on every unit — Without a printed MRP, Flipkart's FC will not accept the unit. Print it on the product label or apply a sticker. The MRP must match what's listed on the Flipkart portal exactly.
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Manufacturer name and address on every unit — Required under Indian consumer protection law. Most Amazon sellers skip this; Flipkart enforces it at the dock.
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Country of origin — "Made in India" or equivalent must appear on the product or its packaging.
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Customer care number — A contact number for customer grievances must appear on every packaged product. This is a Legal Metrology requirement, not Flipkart-specific, but Flipkart enforces it rigorously.
The Pre-Shipment Checklist — Run This Before Every FBA Send
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Every unit has exactly one scannable FNSKU/FSN barcode in the correct location
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All poly bags have suffocation warning (if applicable) and are fully sealed
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All fragile items individually wrapped in bubble wrap with "Fragile" label
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All cartons are new corrugated, H-taped, within dimension and weight limits
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Shipment label from Seller Central printed and affixed to each carton (not on seams or tape)
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No old labels, barcodes, or branding from previous shipments visible on cartons
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Unit count per carton matches what was entered in Seller Central during shipment creation
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For Flipkart: MRP, manufacturer name, country of origin, and customer care number on every unit
Key Takeaways
- A rejected FBA shipment costs ₹5,000–8,000+ in fees and 2–3 weeks of ranking damage. Compliance is cheaper than rejection.
- The most common rejection cause: multiple barcodes on one unit, or barcode on a curved/taped surface. Fix both before sending.
- Flipkart requires MRP on every unit — this is the biggest difference for sellers transitioning from Amazon FBA.
- Run the pre-shipment checklist on every send, even if you've sent dozens of shipments before. One non-compliant carton can get an entire shipment rejected at the dock.