The Ultimate Guide to Amazon FBA Prep for Vitamin and Supplement Brands

Once you’ve assessed your supplement SKUs, the next step is executing compliant physical prep.

This phase covers the must-follow Amazon FBA packaging rules that apply to many supplement products entering Amazon’s fulfillment warehouse.

Supplements are typically expiration-dated, which makes date visibility and shelf life quality, a non-negotiable for Amazon FBA.

Amazon treats expiration-dated inventory like a controlled product category: it actively tracks and audits dates to keep shipments compliant, protect customer safety, and ensure it can execute a recall fast if one ever happens.

Amazon requires the following expiration labeling for consumable products, like supplements:

• All individual units must have expiration dates in a MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY format.

• Expiration dates must be included on both the individual unit and the outer box in 36-point or larger font.

• For items bubble wrapped, poly-bagged, or case packed, expiration date labels must be applied to the outermost layer as well.

• Best-by or sell-by dates are considered equivalent to expiration dates. Manufacturing dates are treated as production dates and must be clearly labeled if used in conjunction with expiration dates.

Amazon also sets a minimum shelf-life requirement to allow sufficient time for vitamins and supplements to be consumed in full.

• Shelf-life requirement: Time for product to be consumed in full + an additional 90 days before expiration.

For example: If a bottle of supplements has 30 daily servings, the expiration date cannot be less than 120 days away when received by Amazon.

Amazon recommends that herbal or mineral supplement products have at least 730 days of shelf-life left when sent to their facility to account for long sell-through timelines.

One of the strictest requirements vitamin and supplement brands may face is around what Amazon classifies as “Meltable” products (heat-sensitive products that can melt at 155°F). Vitamin gummies and softgel capsules often get lumped in this category.

• Seasonal Restrictions: Amazon only accepts and sells meltable inventory after October 6 to April 15th each year.

• Removal and Disposal: Any meltable inventory remaining in fulfillment centers after April 15 will be marked as unfulfillable and may be disposed of. To avoid this, sellers must submit removal orders before April 15 and can request units to be shipped back to them.

• Potential Exceptions: If you believe your gummies or softgel products can survive high heat, you must submit specific documentation proving so from your manufacturer and request a review to Amazon’s Seller Partner Support.

Amazon allows two barcode types: Manufacturer Barcodes (UPC/EAN) and Amazon Barcodes (FNSKU). Which one you’re allowed to use depends on whether you’re a reseller or a brand-registered seller, and that distinction becomes mandatory on March 31, 2026

• If you’re a reseller: Starting March 31, 2026, you must use Amazon Barcodes (FNSKU) for all products. Even if the supplement already has a manufacturer's UPC on it, you’ll be required to cover it with an Amazon barcode sticker. This will ensure the item sold is attributed specifically to your inventory and not “commingled” with other sellers’ stock.

• If you’re a brand owner/representative: If you’re enrolled in Amazon Brand Registry as a brand representative, you may continue to use the Manufacturer Barcode (UPC) without adding extra stickers, provided the product has a valid GS1 standard UPC.

• For Private Label or Hand-Made Items: Using an Amazon FNSKU barcode is highly recommended for private label sellers to ensure brand exclusivity, prevent commingling with counterfeits, and improve inventory tracking.

Since vitamin and supplement packaging often comes in cylindrical bottles, jars, or small boxes, label quality and placement is particularly important to get right:

• Printing: Amazon recommends using a thermal or laser printer since inkjet printers are prone to smudging. Labels must be white and non-flective, with dimensions between 1 x 2 inches and 2 x 3 inches, and printed at a minimum resolution of 300 DPI to remain readable through the fulfillment process.

• Placement: Barcode labels must go on the outside of the final, outermost protective layer, whether that’s a poly bag, box, or bubble wrapped unit. The labels must sit on a flat, even surface, not over a curve or fold. Even a correctly printed barcode can fail to scan if its applied to uneven surfaces.

Skipping prep might feel like a shortcut, but Amazon has very little tolerance for non-compliant inventory, especially in categories like vitamins and supplements. If your products arrive without meeting the safety, packaging, sealing, or labeling standards outlined above, the consequences can escalate quickly.

At best, Amazon may correct the issue for you and charge per-unit fees, including preparation defect fees, unplanned labeling fees, or inbound defect fees for improperly labeled, sealed, or packaged supplement shipments.

At worst, non-compliant shipments can be refused at the dock, returned to you at your expense, or flagged as seller-damaged, leaving you responsible for return freight and lost inventory. Items that pose a safety or compliance risk, such as ingestible products without proper seals, expiration dates, or compliant ingredient labeling, may be disposed of immediately and are typically not eligible for reimbursement.

Repeated issues don’t just affect a single shipment. Ongoing non-compliance can lead Amazon to mandate additional prep requirements, block future inbound shipments, or, in severe cases involving safety or regulatory violations, deactivate your selling account entirely.

1. Can I ship very small vitamin bottles or sample packs to Amazon FBA without extra packaging?

Usually no. Amazon’s Small Product rule applies to many supplement samples and travel-size bottles. If the longest side of the final packaged unit is less than 2-1/8 inches, it cannot be shipped loose. You must place the item inside a larger poly bag or box so it can be safely scanned and handled through Amazon’s conveyor systems.

2. Can I use the manufacturer UPC already printed on my vitamin or supplement bottle for Amazon FBA?

It depends on your seller status. Brand-registered owners using valid GS1 UPCs can typically continue using manufacturer barcodes. However, resellers must transition to Amazon barcodes (FNSKU). Beginning March 31, 2026, reseller inventory must use FNSKU labels, even if a UPC is already printed on the bottle, to prevent commingling with other sellers’ stock.

3. Where should I place the barcode on a round or cylindrical supplement bottle?

Barcodes must be placed on a flat, scannable surface and on the outermost layer of packaging. Because bottles are curved, the safest option is often to place the barcode on the outer poly bag or box instead of directly on the bottle. If labeling the bottle itself, use the flattest panel available and avoid wrapping the barcode around curves or seams.

4. Do liquid supplements and tinctures need special prep to be sold on Amazon?

Yes. Liquid supplements are considered leak-risk items. If the product does not have a manufacturer double seal (such as a shrink band plus inner seal), you should add secondary protection. Amazon commonly requires liquid units to be placed in a sealed poly bag to contain leaks and protect nearby inventory.

5. How should glass vitamin bottles be packaged for Amazon FBA?

Glass containers must be prepped to prevent breakage and safety hazards. They should be bubble-wrapped or over-boxed so the unit can withstand a 3-foot drop onto a hard surface without shattering. The barcode must be placed on the outside of the protective layer, not hidden underneath the wrap.

6. How do I prep supplement bundles or multi-packs correctly to be sold on Amazon?

Multi-bottle bundles must be packaged as one single unit. Shrink wrap, poly bag, or box all items together so they cannot separate. The outer packaging should clearly state “Sold as Set” or “Do Not Separate,” and only one scannable barcode for the full set should be visible on the outside.

7. What happens if my inventory arrives at Amazon without proper prep?

Amazon may relabel or re-prep your units and charge per-item fees. In more serious cases such as leaks, broken glass, or missing seals, shipments can be refused, returned at your expense, or disposed of without reimbursement. Repeated prep violations can also lead to inbound shipment blocks or account action.