Amazon has revealed that it will be discontinuing Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) prep and item labeling services within the United States starting January 1, 2026.
This will affect every shipment to U.S. Amazon fulfillment centers, regardless of whether shipped through FBA or under any of Amazon’s other supply chain programs. After this date, sellers will be fully responsible for ensuring that all such items are prepared and properly labeled prior to shipment. Sellers will not be entitled to reimbursement for items that were lost or damaged in transit if sent with improper labeling or preparation when the conditions of this policy were applicable.
Amazon indicated that its prep services – which primarily included labeling, bubble wrapping, and bagging – had originated as a way to protect products until shipment. Over time, most sellers have implemented robust in-house capabilities around packaging, or partnered with manufacturers or third parties to fulfill these duties.
“The vast majority of Amazon sellers now handle their own packaging, which allows FBA to focus on faster and more efficient fulfillment center operations,” the company said in its announcement.
To help with the transition, Amazon advised sellers to either:
Handle prep and labeling themselves, following Amazon’s product preparation guidelines, or
Use third-party service providers that specialize in FBA compliance.
Sellers may also benefit from Amazon’s Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) program, which allows certain items to be shipped in their original manufacturer packaging, reducing prep requirements.
Industry experts have called this move one of Amazon’s most significant operational changes in recent years. Charles Williams, senior manager of marketplace operations at Blue Wheel, said on LinkedIn that sellers should start preparing now by auditing SKUs that depend on Amazon’s prep services and updating packaging workflows to prevent fulfillment disruptions in 2026.
