Amazon Hazmat SDS & FBA Dangerous Goods Clearance
Complete seller guide to resolving "Hazmat Review Pending", clearing suppressed ASINs, and authoring 100% compliant 16-section Safety Data Sheets or Exemption Sheets within 24–48 hours.
Why Amazon Flags Products for Hazmat Review
When you convert an ASIN to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or sell products containing liquids, sprays, powders, cosmetics, essential oils, or batteries, Amazon’s automated algorithm flags the listing for a Dangerous Goods (Hazmat) Review.
Until cleared by Amazon's compliance team, inventory cannot be checked in, shipment plans are locked, and buy-box sales freeze. Amazon requires either a verified 16-Section GHS Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or a certified Exemption Sheet within 14 business days.
SDS vs. Exemption Sheet: Which Document Do You Need?
| Requirement | 16-Section Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | Amazon Exemption Sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable Products | Chemical formulations, cosmetics, essential oils, cleansers, glues, inks, aerosols, personal care liquids. | Non-chemical dry goods, battery-powered items, or products completely free from regulated chemicals. |
| Amazon Acceptance Criteria | Authored/updated within past 5 years, exact match with ASIN title & brand name, 16 standard GHS sections. | Submitted on official Amazon Excel template; rejected if hazardous ingredients are detected. |
| Review & Turnaround | Reviewed by Amazon DG team in 2 to 4 business days. High first-pass approval rate. | Reviewed in 2 business days; high rejection rate if ingredients trigger safety flags. |
Top 5 Reasons Amazon Rejects Safety Data Sheets
- 1. Title & Brand Discrepancy: The product name on Section 1 of the SDS does not match the exact title or brand on the Amazon product detail page.
- 2. Outdated Format / Legacy MSDS: Submitting obsolete 8- or 9-section material safety data sheets instead of current GHS Rev. 10 / OSHA HazCom 2012 format.
- 3. Missing CAS Numbers or Percentages: Section 3 fails to declare 100% composition or valid Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers for hazardous ingredients.
- 4. Conflicting Transport Data: Section 14 (Transport Information) contradicts Amazon’s internal FBA transportation limits (IATA / IMDG).
- 5. Document Older than 5 Years: Amazon automatically declines SDS files dated more than 5 years prior to the submission date.
Step-by-Step: Uploading to Amazon Seller Central
- Log in to Amazon Seller Central.
- Navigate to Inventory > Manage Dangerous Goods Classification.
- Click on Upload Document on the right-hand panel.
- Enter your ASIN, select Safety Data Sheet (SDS), select language, and upload the verified PDF.
- The Amazon Dangerous Goods team reviews the document within 2 to 4 business days.
Need an Amazon-Compliant SDS Fast?
ChemSDS authors 100% compliant 16-section Safety Data Sheets tailored to your exact ASIN title, manufacturer name, and GHS standards within 24 to 48 hours.