1 │ A 48-Hour Warning E-mail
On a rainy Tuesday, Emma—owner of a booming kitchen-gadgets brand—opens Seller Central to find a red-flag notice: “Your ASINs will incur a £1.15/unit non-compliance fee starting 1 July 2025 unless enrolled in SIPP.” Two days earlier she’d barely heard of Amazon’s Ships in Product Packaging programme. Now her margins—and Prime badge—depend on learning the rules fast.
2 │ SIPP 101: What Changed in April 2025?
| Topic | Old Policy (2023–24) | New Policy (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum ASIN eligibility | 250 units/week sales | 50 units/week |
| Exterior package density | Not enforced | ≥ 75 % volume utilisation or surcharge |
| Poly-bag allowance | Clear PE bag OK < 30 × 30 cm | Poly-bags banned unless suffocation holes + recyclability code 4 |
| Non-compliance fee | £0.25–£0.70 | £1.15/unit (UK) |
| Auto-Opt-in | Optional | Eligible ASINs auto-enrolled; seller must opt-out |
Why the change? Amazon aims to cut 500 M empty-air parcels in EU fulfilment centres by 2026.
3 │ Who’s Affected? (Quick Checklist)
☑ Your product currently ships FBA in its own branded box or pouch.
☑ Gross weight ≤ 12 kg and longest side ≤ 45 cm.
☑ No prep required beyond a scannable FNSKU label.
☑ No dangerous-goods, temperature-controlled or fragile-glass classification.
Miss one? SIPP is optional—but the new sustainability non-compliance fee (NCF) still applies from July.
4 │ Cost Impact Calculator (Single-ASIN Example)
Outcome: For any ASIN > 1 000 units/mo, modifying the retail box is often cheaper than paying NCF for a full year.
5 │ Packaging Requirements in Plain English
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Drop-Test: Survive 1 m drop on 6 faces in retail packaging only.
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Void Fill ≤ 10 %: Amazon will reject packages padded with extra air pillows.
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Barcodes: FNSKU on a flat, scannable face—no seams.
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Seals: Tamper-evident or double tape; no shrink-wrap over retail box.
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Environmental Markings: FSC logo or “Widely Recycled” label preferred; mandatory for toys from Jan 2026.
Need a box redesign? A double-wall EE flute carton adds ~£0.14 but often pays back after 30 days of avoided fees.
6 │ Enrolment Flow (Takes ~15 min/ASIN)
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Seller Central ➜ FBA Dashboard ➜ SIPP Enrolment.
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Upload packaging dimensions, weight, and a 360° photo (all six sides).
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Print SIPP Test label ➜ send 1 sample unit to LTN2 (UK) for inspection.
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Amazon drop-tests & scans; pass/fail in 5 business days.
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Pass: ASIN goes “SIPP Active”; NCF removed. Fail: 30-day fix window.
Tip: Ship multiple ASIN samples in one carton tagged “SIPP BULK TEST” to save courier charges.
7 │ Logistics After Enrolment
| Step | Old FBA Flow | SIPP Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Receive at FC | Carton opened, item bagged/boxed | Carton unopened → stowed |
| Speed to shelf | 2–3 days | Same day |
| Returns packaging | Amazon poly-bag | Your retail box reused |
| Sustainability badge | None | “Compact by Design” icon on PDP |
Faster FC processing can bring Buy Box win rate ↑ 1–2 pp during peak.
8 │ Common Pitfalls & Fixes
| Problem | How to Fix |
|---|---|
| Retail box lacks ≥ 6.5 × 6 cm flat area for FNSKU | Add side-flap label zone in dieline. |
| Glossy varnish causes scanner errors | Matte laminate over barcode region. |
| Box violates 75 % fill rule (too big) | Insert corrugate spacer or resize carton. |
| Fragile glass fails 6-face drop | Add corner cushions, then retest. |
9 │ FAQ
Does SIPP apply to FBM or Seller-Fulfilled Prime?
No—only FBA inbound units.
Will Amazon auto-repackage non-compliant units?
Yes, but prep fees rise to £1.15/unit and processing delay is 24–48 h.
Can bundles qualify?
Yes, if items are fixed (no movement) and total dims meet SIPP size cap.
Conclusion & Action Plan
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Audit your top 20 ASINs for SIPP eligibility today.
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Redesign packaging where non-compliance cost > redesign cost.
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Enrol before 1 July 2025 to avoid the £1.15/unit fee.
Need support? UK Pre Fulfilment runs on-site ISTA 6-FBA tests and bulk SIPP sample consolidations—book a 30-minute consult and slash your prep fees.
