Why this matters before you buy a single unit
New Amazon sellers lose money the same way again and again: they find a "winning product," order 500 units from China, and only then discover it's dangerous goods. The shipment gets held at the airport, rejected at the FBA warehouse, or — worst case — the seller's account gets suspended for shipping undeclared hazmat.
The catch is that "dangerous goods" is far broader than explosives. A rechargeable lantern, a kids' toy with a magnet, a bottle of perfume, even a songbook with a tiny watch battery — all can be flagged. Amazon classifies over 3,000 product types as dangerous goods.
Checking during sourcing — before you wire money — is the cheapest insurance there is. If it's red, you walk away. If it's yellow, you know exactly which documents to demand from the factory before you pay.
The three outcomes explained (Green / Yellow / Red)
🟢 Green — not dangerous goods. Ships into FBA normally. Your next worry is whether it actually sells, not whether it ships.
🟡 Yellow — restricted, but sellable. It's hazmat, but Amazon accepts it through the FBA Dangerous Goods program if you enroll and provide the right documents (SDS, and for batteries a UN38.3 summary and 30%-charge declaration). Skip the paperwork and your inventory can be blocked or destroyed.
🔴 Red — not allowed in FBA. Explosives, toxic gases, standalone lithium batteries by air and similar can't go into Amazon's network at all. You'd need third-party logistics (3PL) or seller-fulfilled shipping — usually not worth it for a beginner. Better to source a different product.
The 2026 lithium battery rule every new seller misses
From 1 January 2026, the 30% State of Charge (SoC) limit became a mandatory air-freight rule under IATA — for both standalone batteries (UN3480) and batteries built into or packed with equipment (UN3481).
In plain terms: if your product has a rechargeable lithium battery, the factory must ship it charged to 30% or less. Above that, the carrier rejects it unless you get a special approval from two governments — which takes weeks and kills your launch timeline.
So when you message your supplier, you must explicitly ask them to ship at 30% charge and to provide a State of Charge declaration. Most beginner sellers don't know to ask, and find out only when their goods are stuck at origin.
What to send your supplier (copy-paste)
If your result is Yellow, paste this to your Alibaba / factory contact before you pay the deposit:
Getting these upfront is what separates a smooth first shipment from a rejected one. If the factory can't provide them, that's a red flag about the product.
📄 Generate a formal document-request PDF
Fill in your details and download a professional compliance-request letter (PDF) to send your supplier — looks far more serious than a chat message, and factories respond faster.
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Frequently asked questions
Q. Can't I just use Amazon's own tool?
A. Only after you're a registered seller and the product already has an ASIN. While you're still choosing what to source, you have neither — that's the gap this checker fills.
Q. My product has a tiny battery — does that really count?
A. Yes. Even a watch-style coin cell embedded in a product can trigger hazmat handling. Size doesn't exempt it; the chemistry does.
Q. Is "yellow" worth pursuing as a beginner?
A. It can be — many top FBA products are batteries or cosmetics. Just budget for the documents and the dangerous-goods program enrollment, and confirm your supplier can provide compliant paperwork.
Q. Does this guarantee Amazon's decision?
A. No. It's a sourcing-stage screen. Amazon's binding classification comes from your submitted SDS and product details. Treat a yellow/red result as "investigate before buying," not a final ruling.
Sources: Amazon Seller Central FBA Dangerous Goods program guidance; UN Globally Harmonized System (9 hazard classes); IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 67th Edition (2026) State of Charge rules for UN3480 / UN3481 lithium batteries. This is an independent first-pass screening tool, not official Amazon classification or legal advice. Always obtain and verify a Safety Data Sheet from your supplier and confirm current rules before shipping.